For the love of the fair

Kayln Naatz of Blooming Prairie has been involved with the Steele County Fair for most of her life as a 4-H member, but this year she got a whole new perspective on the fair.
On Friday afternoon of the fair, Naatz made the rounds of the fair as Stella, one of the fair’s mascots. The famous duo, Steely and Stella, has been charming fairgoers for the past 21 years.
The tradition of the mascots dates back to 1998 when a caricature was made of a steer. Former fair manager Elmer Reseland made Steely a live character in 1999. In 2010, Stella was added as Steely’s sidekick.
This was Naatz’s first time behind the mask of Stella. She said her sidekick, Steely, aka: Tim Nelson, encouraged her to try it out. And Naatz isn’t sorry she did, even though she took only a single three-hour shift this year.
“It was a fun experience,” Naatz said. “My favorite part was the special needs kids. They get so excited and sometimes won’t let you go. Whoever is with them has to pull them off.”
Many fairgoers snapped pictures of Steely and Stella roaming through the grounds. “It was fun taking pictures and making the kids smile,” Naatz said. “It’s funny when we’re in a mask, I found myself smiling even though I didn’t have to,” she said with a chuckle.
Young children get so excited when they spot the mascots that Steely and Stella nearly get taken out at the knees, Naatz said. “Your head is so big, you can’t see what direction the kids are even coming from,” she added.
While portraying Stella, Naatz had some fun with her friends, who didn’t know of her new role at the fair. “It’s fun to tease some people when they don’t know it’s you under the costume,” Naatz said.
The only drawback for Naatz was the temperature inside the mask. “It gets really hot in there,” she said. They utilize ice packs in pouches around their costume, but Naatz pointed out, “within a half an hour they’re melted.”
Naatz is proud to keep a tradition of the mascots alive in Steele County. She points out that she doesn’t know of any other fair that has mascots other than the Minnesota State Fair. “It’s really neat for Steele County,” she says. “Steely and Stella are the face of the Steele County Fair. It makes us more unique.”
The fair has been a long tradition for Naatz’s family. As long as she can remember, Naatz’s family has camped at the fair. “It’s a family tradition,” Naatz said. “It has been our family vacation for our whole life.”
Even though Naatz graduated from 4-H a couple years ago, she plans to continue being involved with the fair. She still helps out with livestock shows, including swine and beef cattle.
“I miss it so much,” Naatz says of being away from 4-H. “It’s hard to be a 4-H alumni and not do what I’ve done in the past.”
Naatz says she envisions herself always being involved with the fair. “It would be different not doing something at the fair,” she said. “I want to keep my foot in the door and support the fair,” she added.
And as for Stella, well, she would welcome the opportunity to continue charming fairgoers in future years.
“Hopefully they will ask me back,” Naatz said. “The fair is an important piece of my life.”