Best Bets: 100 years of the Mower County Farm Bureau

Published 10:40 am Thursday, July 27, 2017

The Mower County Farm Bureau is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a day of fun-filled events at the Mower County Historical Society on Saturday.

“Usually we do ‘Breakfast at the Farm,’” said Mower County Farm Bureau Federation President Marlin Fay. “This year, we decided to do something special for the 100th anniversary.”

Fay said the event will begin at 9:30 a.m. with activities that will run through 11:30 a.m. Those activities include a scavenger hunt for children, bounce houses, horse-drawn wagon rides and circular pony rides.

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The Mower County Historical Society will also have a few buildings open, allowing visitors to learn more about the history of the Mower County Farm Bureau. Farm equipment will also be on display, as will Farm Bureau books.

A free lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tim Penny of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation will speak at 1 p.m. Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap will also speak.

All of the events are free.

This is a chance for people to talk to farmers and ask about where their food comes from and find out what we do,” Fay said. “If they have questions about agriculture, this is their chance. If you want to have fun or learn about agriculture, it’s a good place to go.”

For more information, call Marlin Fay at 507-438-5676.

Friday

•Second Floor Gallery Show – Craig Groe, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Free admission. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

•Monarch Magic (Session Two), 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Come learn about the amazing life of the Monarch butterfly and search for Monarch eggs and caterpillars around the Nature Center. Space is limited to 10 children. For ages seven to nine years old. Cost is $8 ($3 for Friends Members).

•Hormel Institute Open House, 2 to 4 p.m. at The Hormel Institute. Learn about The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, established in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel as a philanthropic institution. Today, The Hormel Institute’s world-class cancer research focuses on discoveries leading to a better understanding of how cancer works and more effective ways of preventing and curing cancer. A 2016 expansion added 20 additional labs, a cryo-electron microscope, and the Ray Live Learning Center. For more information, call 507-437-9601.

•Chateau Raceway Points Night, 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing. Hot laps at 6:30 pm, race follows. Chateau Raceway is a 1/3 mile semi-banked racetrack made of clay/gumbo mix. We offer seven different classes on a weekly basis: Chateau Raceway Hornets and Pure Stocks, Wissota Street Stocks and Midwest Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and USRA A and B Modifieds. For more information, call 507-272-8906.

• “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College. A Summerset Theatre production. The infamous tale of Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. Featuring some the most chilling music ever written for the stage. For more information or tickets, call 507-433-0595 or go to www.summersettheatre.org.

Saturday

•100th Anniversary Mower County Farm Bureau Celebration, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mower County Historical Society. For more information, see above or call Marlin Fay at 507-438-5676.

•Saturday Sweet Reads – Pirates, 10 to 11 a.m. at Sweet Reads Books and Candy. Come in costume to help enjoy this fun story time. For more information, call 507-396-8660.

•Second Floor Gallery Show – Craig Groe, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Free admission. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

•Hormel Institute Open House, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Hormel Institute. Learn about The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, established in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel as a philanthropic institution. Today, The Hormel Institute’s world-class cancer research focuses on discoveries leading to a better understanding of how cancer works and more effective ways of preventing and curing cancer. A 2016 expansion added 20 additional labs, a cryo-electron microscope, and the Ray Live Learning Center. For more information, call 507-437-9601.

•Bob Ross Oil Landscape Painting, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. With Julie Fjetland. The Bob Ross painting technique is for all skill levels.  During the class, Julie will show you how to prep your canvas and will demo step-by-step painting techniques. By the end of class you will have completed the entire painting and can take it home to hang and enjoy for years to come. Supplies included. For ages 16 and older, cost: $80 per person. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

•Spamtown Belle Rides, 1 to 5 p.m. at East Side Lake. Come take a ride on the Spamtown Belle paddleboat. Rides last about 25 minutes. Freewill donation appreciated (suggested $2 for adults and $1 for children).

• “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College. A Summerset Theatre production. The infamous tale of Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. Featuring some the most chilling music ever written for the stage. For more information or tickets, call 507-433-0595 or go to www.summersettheatre.org.

•14U/16U/18U Southern Minny GFP League Tournament, at the North Todd Complex. For more information, call 507-433-1881.

Sunday

•Spamtown Belle Rides, 1 to 5 p.m. at East Side Lake. Come take a ride on the Spamtown Belle paddleboat. Rides last about 25 minutes. Freewill donation appreciated (suggested $2 for adults and $1 for children).

• “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College. A Summerset Theatre production. The infamous tale of Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. Featuring some the most chilling music ever written for the stage. For more information or tickets, call 507-433-0595 or go to www.summersettheatre.org.

•14U/16U/18U Southern Minny GFP League Tournament, at the North Todd Complex. For more information, call 507-433-1881.