HEART OF STEELE

I approached the Steele County Free Fair with an open mind and about fifty bucks, which was not nearly enough for food but plenty for entertainment.

For weeks, people told me to expect something special, but the sheer magnitude of the event still felt overwhelming. Outside of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, I’ve never seen that many corn dog vendors in one place.

And still, the range of offerings for treats and eats was nothing sort of amazing.

It took a few trips, but I believe I saw almost everything. Here are five things I learned at the Steele County Free Fair:

1. Milking a cow is no easy feat. Our publisher Rick Bussler and veteran journalist Howard Lestrud competed Wednesday for bragging rights. Both turned in a respectable performance.
2. Volunteering in the information booth is a fine way to spend a few hours. My co-worker Kay Fate was the actual volunteer; I tagged along. We fielded questions about everything from ride wristbands to the location of various vendors on a detailed map.
3. People of all ages love the fair–and I mean infants to elders in wheelchairs. I believe the reason is simple: SCFF offers something entertaining for everyone, so everyone shows up.
4. Even though the grounds were crowded, there was room for kindness. We watched from the Information booth as several fairgoers helped a vendor whose handcart had gotten caught on uneven pavement, spilling several boxes to the ground.
5. Fair parking is a cottage industry. I was surprised by how many businesses gave up their lots, with local nonprofits raising funds by charging $5 for however long you wanted to stay. I’m willing to bet thousands of dollars were raised during the week.

I’ve heard it said, and now I believe it: the Steele County Free Fair is the best county fair in Minnesota. And I am grateful to everyone who puts their heart into making it so.