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After six eventful days, a little bit of rain and a lot of smiles, the 2024 Steele County Free Fair came to a close Sunday evening.
During the week, fairgoers were able to witness a lot of firsts: the first time the Fair Square stage was sponsored by Wenger Corporation, the first time the fair selected the best new fair food before the fair official began (congratulations again, Noris Cuisine), the first time Brian Deml had his face painted inside the Four Seasons Centre (and the second, and the third), the first time the Steele Saloon opened the doors to its new permanent building, the first time locals took the grandstand for a lip sync competition after an air guitar legend opened for their special performances.
And even though there were many firsts, there were just as many long standing traditions people have come to expect year after year: Barry Benjamin and his exotic critters from Happy Tails Pet Store inside the GOC, Larry Scheidt and his vegetable peeler inside the Four Seasons, the All-Star Stunt Dogs and their amazing tricks, the gyros from Dimitri’s and Cindy’s Nachos from Graces having among the longest lines for food.
Between the 300-plus volunteers that make the SCFF a success, the 131 food stands and 300 indoor vendors, the local county fair was once again celebrated as a success. Though the megaband tickets for unlimited rides did not break last year’s record, there was an impressive 6,200-plus sold of the 6,500 printed before the opening of the SCFF last week.
As the fair staff and board recover from a long week and Owatonna’s own Afton Nelson, daughter of Stacy and Tim Nelson, continues on the journey of hopefully being crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way Amy Cov Vincelli, of Owatonna, shared a poem she wrote in honor of the closing of the Steele County Free Fair:
Goodnight Fair
Goodnight Ferris wheel
Goodnight county of Steele
Goodnight award winning sow
Goodnight old time plow
Goodnight smiles
That go on for miles
Goodnight late nights
Goodnight bright lights
Goodnight busy grandstand
Goodnight ride wristband
Goodnight excited kids
Close those eyelids
Goodnight grand champion ribbons
Goodnight clucking chickens
Goodnight Steely, Goodnight Stella
Goodnight announcement making fella
Goodnight to each amazing parent
Your exhaustion is quite apparent
Goodnight tractor pull
Goodnight riders with the bull
Goodnight exciting rodeo
Goodnight Old Iron Show
Goodnight Sheriff’s Mounted Posse & all personnel
You have treated us all incredibly well
Goodnight amazing treats
Goodnight people lined in the streets
Goodnight champion steer
Goodnight Garden of Beer
Goodnight Dairy Princess
We are in awe of your loveliness
Goodnight Four Seasons building
Goodnight people singing
Goodnight many parking lots
Goodnight beautiful flowers in pots
Goodnight demo derby
You are unbelievably dirty
Goodnight cows that moo
Goodnight petting zoo
Goodnight busy barns
Goodnight projects and yarns
Goodnight deep fried food
That was happily chewed
Goodnight to many a vendor
Goodnight Steele Saloon bartender
Goodnight ticket booth
Goodnight sweet tooth
Goodnight music making band
All so remarkably grand
Goodnight 4-H submissions
Goodnight entertaining magicians
Goodnight Village of Yesteryear
Goodnight many a volunteer
Goodnight beautiful carousel
We bid you farewell
Goodnight Steele County Free Fair
Goodnight air
Goodnight midways everywhere
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