Fair: Best year ever financially

The Steele County Agricultural Society, which operates the fair, is in excellent shape financially after a its best fair ever in August.

The group held its annual meeting Nov. 5 at the Community Center on the fairgrounds. Treasurer Tim Arlt gave the financial report while Fair Manager Scott Kozelka reviewed not only the actual fair but also all the other events held on the grounds in the past year.

The group also presented United Way of Steele County President Annette Duncan with a check for $15,000. The money was given in recognition of the partnership that the fair has with the United Way.

In his treasurer’s report, Arlt said the society had total net assets of $3,525,333 as of Sept. 30. Total assets were $3,649,817 and total liabilities of $124,484.

The total income for 2026 was the highest the society has ever had, he said. Total income for the year ending Sept. 30, was $2,455,607. Total expenses were $2,152,310. Net income was $303,298.

“We’re in a good position,” Arlt said, adding the board tries to manage the money wisely.

In his annual report, Kozelka said that this year the fair introduced “Spring into Summer,” a new annual event to kick-off the upcoming fair season. It was a successful event, he said, that featured fair foods, a couple carnival rides, cornhole tournament, softball tournament, backyard BBQ contest, Tom Thumb 5K race and non-stop entertainment.

Work has already started, he said, on the 2027 Spring into Summer which will be held on June 4 and 5.

The fair hosted 53 off-season events including the North Central Highland Cattle Show, the Sound Church Revival, as well as wedding receptions, graduations open houses and partnered with non-profit organizations including the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Community Pathways-Pathways Palooza, Steele and Waseca Mounted Posse trainings and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“It is a goal of the Steele County Free Fair Board of Directors and an expectation of our community that our grounds be utilized year-round. I am proud to say that we are meeting this goal and that our off-season calendar is filling up for 2027,” Kozelka said.

He said the 2026 fair may have been the best ever with perfect weather, outstanding entertainment, exhibits showcasing the hard work and talents of all ages and a balance of new and favorite fair foods and the grounds were packed with new and returning fairgoers. The bar has been set quite high for the 2027 fair, he said.

Six individuals, all incumbents, were elected to three-year terms on the board including Jim Abbe, Tim Arlt, Rick Ellingson, Ben Olson, Paul Smith and Brent Svenby.

The members also approved an update to the bylaws of the society. The bylaws were last updated in 2015 with the changes reflecting changes required by the state or making the language clearer.

Following the annual board meeting, the Fair Board convened its regular November meeting.

Sheriff Lon Thiele gave a report on law enforcement activities at the 2026 fair.

The fair is the biggest county fair in the state and the sheriff’s office takes pride in the security they provide, he said. The sheriff’s office takes over the responsibility for the grounds from the Owatonna Police Department on Sunday of fair week, he said. He tries to maintain a professional presence, he said, while remembering that they still have 432 miles of Steele County to cover.

There are reasons he has the team where they are, he said. Putting people in the right spots, she said, can prevent problems.

There are cameras on the grounds, he said, which is beneficial to see where people are. It can also be helpful in locating someone who is missing, he said.

Traffic and parking logistics are always an issue, he said, and this year it seemed to run smoother. It was one of the better years, he said.

Parents, he said, need to take better control of their children and also need to realize that if someone is ordered to leave the grounds and they have a wrist band that band is removed.

“Parents need to understand this and discuss it with their kids,” he said.

The number of hours put in during the fair has increased over the years, he said. In 2000, the Sheriff’s Office put in 825 man hours during the fair and in 2026 it was up to 1,520 hours.

He urged the fair board to evaluate the costs of having security at the fair. They increase, he said, but he believes the fair board will find they are a good investment.

The board also elected officers for the year. Dan Deml was elected president, John DeMars vice president and Tim Arlt treasurer.