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Soon this area of the Pipestone County Fairgrounds will be filled with rides, food and people. This year’s fair is Wednesday, July 30 to Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Four days of animals, events, rides, games and food are coming to Pipestone from Wednesday, July 30 to Saturday, Aug. 2. This year’s Pipestone County Fair will include many of the well-known staples from previous years as well as some new features.
New this year is an All About Herbs Demonstration presented by the Pipestone Master Gardeners from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Another new event is professional juggler Tuey Wilson, who will perform on Thursday and Friday from 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. The bluegrass band Monroe Crossing is also new to the fair this year, and will perform from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. All of these new events will be under the tent and, like all events under the tent, there is no cost to attend.
“One of my priorities is to have as many free things as we possibly can to let every single person in our community enjoy the aspects of the fair for free,” said Fair Board President Skip Moeller. “There’s no cost for parking, there’s no cost for admission into the grounds, there’s a tremendous amount of stuff that’s free underneath the white tent, and a lot of these things that are free are made possible because of our excellent support of the fair through our Friends of the Fair Campaign. I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all of the people who donate to the fair every year.”
Some of the biggest attractions each year happen in the grandstand, where there is a cost to attend. This year’s grandstand events include the Ag Olympics on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The event first came to the fair last year and includes teams of community members competing in a variety of comical events. The band IV Play will perform in the grandstand on Thursday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. There will also be two tractor pulls in the grandstand this year. The NTPA Truck and Tractor Pull will be on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Great Plains Tractor Pullers, Inc. will be in the grandstand from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Other regular events include the 4-H and FFA livestock shows and open class shows. Moeller said Christensen Broadcasting Network will livestream the livestock shows and ribbon auction for those who can’t attend.
It’s quiet now, but soon this area of the Pipestone County Fairgrounds will be filled with people and animals. This year’s fair begins Wednesday, July 30. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
There will also be food stands and a wide variety of events all over the fairgrounds.
On Wednesday, those events include bingo from noon to 2 p.m., music by Dick Fredrickson from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mr. Twister balloon twisting from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Dar’s Pizza at the 4-H Food Stand from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mogen’s Heroes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the kids pedal pull at 7 p.m. in the show arena for ages 4 to 11. Kids can sign up for the pedal pull from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 31, the schedule includes bingo from noon to 2 p.m., the Zoo Man from noon to 4 p.m. east of the white tent where the feeds are, MN Jack Sparrow from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., the F.R.O.G.S. Men’s Quartet from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. under the tent, the Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Feed from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., a horse pole bending run at 7 p.m. in the horse arena and the Jesse Moffitt Hypnosis Show from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the show arena.
On Friday, Aug. 1, bingo is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m., the Zoo Man will be presenting his reptiles from noon to 4 p.m., the 605 Magic Art Bus will be on site from noon to 8 p.m., MN Jack Sparrow will sail the fairgrounds from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Dick Fredrickson will perform from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Pipestone County Pork Producers feed will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the Larry Olsen Polka Band will perform under the tent from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 2 includes the rib cook-off contest beginning at 6 a.m. The contest includes prizes up to $1,000 for the grand champion. Moeller said they’re always looking for more competitors and that entry information can be found at pipestonecountyfair.com. Later on Saturday, the ranch rodeo is at 4 p.m., in the horse arena and the community rib feed is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Moeller said the rib feed was moved up to an earlier time to try to catch people after the ribbon auction.
The rides at the midway will be running each day and advance tickets are available at Coborn’s, Hank’s Foods, The Clothier By Dawn and the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce. Advance tickets are $20 for six rides. Moeller said to remember that with advance tickets one ticket equals one ride, whereas rides take multiple tickets when using tickets purchased at the fair.