Exhibitors and exhibits at Dunn County Fair still fewer than pre-COVID
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — The number of junior exhibitors and exhibits at the Dunn County Fair was still fewer this year than 2018, two years before the COVID-19 pandemic started.
In 2023, there were 204 junior exhibitors at the Dunn County Fair, according to the annual report presented to the Dunn County Board at the October 18 meeting.
In 2018, there were 334 exhibitors.
The number of exhibitors in 2019 was slightly less at 310.
The exhibitor count fell to half in 2020, the year the COVID-19 pandemic started.
The Dunn County Fair was modified in 2020 with no carnival, and COVID-19 safety precautions were in place.
Since 2021, the junior exhibitor numbers have remained essentially the same at 204, 207 (2022) and 204 (2023), representing only about 30 additional exhibitors since the modified fair in 2020 and 100 fewer than before the pandemic started.
The number of junior exhibits has followed the same trajectory.
In 2018, two years before the pandemic, there were 3,320 junior exhibits.
In 2019, there were somewhat fewer, with 3,098.
The junior exhibits dropped to 1,264 in 2020, the year of the modified fair.
The number of junior exhibits has remained essentially the same since then, with 1,780 in 2021; 1,797 in 2022; and slightly more with 1,873 in 2023.
The number of junior exhibits was 1,540 fewer in 2021 than in 2018, was 1,523 fewer in 2022 than in 2018, and was 1,447 fewer in 2023 than in 2018.
Open Class
Open Class exhibitors have followed the same trend.
In 2018, there were 78 Open Class exhibitors, and in 2019, there somewhat fewer at 66.
There were zero Open Class exhibitors and exhibits in 2020.
In 2021, the number of Open Class Exhibitors decreased to half of pre-pandemic levels at 36.
In 2022, there were 42, and in 2023, the Dunn County Fair had 55 Open Class exhibitors.
The number of Open Classe exhibitors in 2021 was 42 fewer than in 2019, in 2022 was 36 fewer than in 2018 and was 23 fewer in 2023.
The number of Open Class exhibits was 821 in 2018 and was 618 in 2019.
There were zero Open Class exhibits in 2020, the year of the modified fair.
In 2021, there were 329 Open Class exhibits.
In 2022, there were 288 Open Class exhibits.
In 2023, there were 455 Open Class exhibits.
In 2021, there were 492 fewer Open Class exhibits than in 2018, while in 2022 there were 533 fewer Open Class exhibits than in 2018.
In 2022, Open Class exhibits were 366 fewer than in 2018.
Meat animal auction
The Dunn County Fair meat animal auction has had fewer animals for sale than before the coronavirus pandemic, but the amount of money generated by the auction has increased.
In 2017, there were 100 animals sold on the meat animal auction for a total of $237,395.
Beef averaged $3.62 per pound, while sheep averaged $4.81 per pound, swine averaged $5.95 per pound and goats averaged $5.58 per pound.
In 2018, there nine fewer animals for sale, and the amount generated from the auction was $171,070, which is $66,325 less than in 2017.
Beef averaged $2.27 per pound ($1.35 per pound less than 2017), sheep averaged $4.34 per pound (47 cents per pound less than in 2017), swine averaged $5.15 per pound (80 cents per pound less than 2017), and goats averaged $3.94 ($1.64 per pound less than in 2017).
In 2019, there were 90 animals sold for a total of $176,432, which was 10 animals fewer than 2017 and $60,963 less for the auction than in 2017.
In 2019, beef averaged $2.23 per pound ($1.39 per pound less than in 2017), while sheep averaged $5.14 per pound (33 cents more than in 2017), swine averaged $6.03 per pound (8 cents more per pound than 2017), and goats averaged $5.21 per pound (37 cents less per pound than in 2017).
There was no meat animal auction in 2020, the year the pandemic started.
In 2021, there 85 animals sold, which was 15 fewer than in 2017, but the auction generated $257,001, which is $19,606 more than in 2017.
Beef averaged $5.72 per pound ($2.10 per pound more than in 2017), while sheep averaged $10.83 per pound ($6.02 more per pound than in 2017), swine averaged $9.57 per pound ($3.62 more per pound than 2017), and goats averaged $10.44 per pound ($4.86 more per pound than 2017).
In 2022, there were again 85 animals sold, and the auction generated $201,546 ($35,849 less than in 2017, and $55,455 less than in 2021).
Beef averaged $3.56 per pound (6 cents less than in 2017 and $2.16 less per pound than 2021), sheep averaged $5.12 per pound (31 cents more than in 2017 but $5.71 less per pound than 2021), swine averaged $6.04 per pound (9 cents more per pound than in 2017 but $3.53 less than in 2021), and goats averaged $12.87 per pound ($7.29 more per pound that 2017 and $2.43 more per pound than 2021).
In 2023, there were 81 animals sold (19 fewer than in 2017), and the auction generated $243,056 ($5,661 more than in 2017 but $13,945 less than in 2021).
Beef averaged $4.01 per pound (45 cents more per pound than in 2022 and 39 cents more per pound than in 2017).
Sheep averaged $6.95 per pound ($1.83 more per pound than 2022 and $2.14 more per pound than in 2017).
Swine averaged $7.58 per pound ($1.54 more per pound than in 2022 and $1.63 more per pound than in 2017).
Goats averaged $10.44 per pound ($2.43 less per pound than 2022 but $4.86 per pound more than in 2017).
Fair board
Dunn County Fair Board members include Scott Baier, Larry Bjork, Deb Gotlibson, Ron Score, Troy Steinmeyer and Deric Wolf.
“We are brainstorming ideas to increase exhibits and participants at the fair,” according to the 2023 annual report.
The Dunn County Fair is one of 75 county fairs in Wisconsin.
As readers will recall, the weather was an issue for the 2023 Dunn County Fair.
“The week started pleasantly, but went downhill quickly with excessive heat, storms, and rain. We ended up shutting down the fair early on Thursday, due to the heat; grandstand and free stage entertainment was canceled. Friday the weather was better in the morning, but as the day went on, it became more humid, storm number two hit at 6 p.m., dumping more rain. We picked up the pieces and about an hour later, the carnival, food stands and beer garden were able to open, but the grandstand and free stage could not recover. Regrouping on Saturday, we ended up canceling the NTPA Truck and Tractor Pull; after 4 inches of rain in two days… The track and pits would not dry out during the day. All in all, Saturday was a great day with the auction and other activities happening and nicer weather,” the annual report states.
