By LEE BONORDEN.

Wednesday, July 19, 2000

By LEE BONORDEN

Austin Daily Herald

Plans are under way for the 2000 Mower County Fair scheduled for Aug. 8-13 at the fairgrounds in southwest Austin.

The Mower County Farm Bureau has agreed to sponsor a second free stage of entertainment.

The stage will be located at the east end of the Plager Building, where free entertainment will be offered daily during the County Fair from 4 to 8 p.m.

Opening ceremonies will be held in front of Crane Pavilion, beginning at noon Aug. 8.

The Fair Person of the Year will be named, Jan Johnson of LeRoy will sing the National Anthem and the LeRoy American Legion Post Color Guard will present the flag.

This year’s county fair is currently without a superintendent in the overall creative arts, needle craft and baked, canned and preserved goods areas of competition. Also, a superintendent of the photography exhibits is needed.

Anyone interested in filling the posts may call the county fair offices at 433-1868.

Ron Hayes will be inducted into the Mower County Livestock Hall of Fame this year.

The ceremonies take place Aug. 10, beginning at 4 p.m. in Crane Pavilion.

The Mower County Beef Producers will host a beef cookoff on Aug. 8, beginning at 3:30 p.m. in front of Crane Pavilion. Interested grillmasters may read the county fair premium book for details or call Marge Steele for more information at (507) 584-6800.

Among the popular highlights of the county fair this year will be the return of Tina and Lena, who will have two performances at Fair Square and sing the National Anthem before the Senior Night crowd on Aug. 10 at the grandstands.

The Gary Froiland family also will entertain at 5 p.m. Aug. 10 and the Kids Pedal Tractor Pull is scheduled for the last day of the county fair at 3 p.m. Aug. 13.

Ronald McDonald will entertain children Aug. 11, when Day Care Day is observed. This year, the Mower County Farm Bureau will sponsor special events for the children, including a scavenger hunt, Ag Olympics and ice cream social, when political candidates will be featured.

Outstanding male and female senior citizen nomination forms still are available at the fair office as well as local churches, senior centers and libraries.

Century Farms will be recognized by the Mower County Fair Bureau beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 10.

Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz will entertain with song and guitar beginning at 4 p.m. Aug. 12.

Amateur talent needed

Vandy Newman, coordinator for the amateur talent show’s fifth installment, has recruited a judge for the contest.

Margaret Obst, a Brownsdale resident who is a popular elementary teacher in the Hayfield Independent School District, will judge the teen division’s competitors.

The teen contestants will entertain beginning at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8. That’s also Teen Night at the fair.

Obst also will judge Aug. 9, when preteen contestants compete beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Also judging this year will be Jane Koch of Austin, a St. Edward-St. Augustine and Queen of Angels music instructor.

Koch will judge the open division beginning at 7:15 p.m. Aug. 11.

All performances will be held at Fair Square and are open to the public.

The top three entrants in each division will return to perform Aug. 13 and receive their prizes.

First-place winners only will advance to the Minnesota State Fair.

For more information about the amateur talent contest, call Denise Mudra, county fair office manager, at 433-1868.