A year of firsts, cherished traditions celebrated during SCFF

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