No time like fair time; Mower County Fair kicks off, Cole named Fair Person of the Year
Published 8:42 am Wednesday, August 8, 2018
- Riders get twirled around on the midway during the first day of the Mower County Fair Tuesday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Amid the swirls of lights, colors and wafting smells of fair food, the Mower County Fair kicked off Tuesday night, bringing residents throughout the area together for a week of fun.
To kick off this year’s fair, the Mower County Fair Board named Dave Cole, superintendent of the Mower County Fair Game and Fish Building, as this year’s Fair Person of the Year, who was presented the award by Kevin Finley, fair board president.
“He’s a good guy,” Finley told the crowd of fair attendees.

Dave Cole was names Fair Person of the Year Tuesdy during opening ceremonies Tuesday evening at the Mower County Fair. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Cole had been a volunteer with the Game and Fish Building for 18 years— and now serves as the superintendent—and assists with the operations at the facility and preps it every year for the Mower County Fair with the help of around 50 volunteers.
“It’s a wonderful honor from the fair board,” Cole said. “This honor really represents the work of all the volunteers.”
Aside from the fair rides, vendors selling food and merchandise, and races the Game and Fish Building has the unique opportunity to draw attention to conservation efforts, and providing educational experiences for visitors.
The Austin Chapter 10 of the Izaak Walton League — which Cole is a member of — Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District, Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, Mower County Pheasants and Habitats Forever and the National Wild Turkey Federation-Cedar River Longbeards Chapter, were exhibitors for this year’s fair.
Cole shared that around 50 volunteers were responsible for putting together a fun, interactive event inside the Game and Fish Building for the fair. This year, the “prairie patio” was a new feature where guests could take a guided tour of wildflowers and rain gardens around the building.
There are also other exhibits such as live fish that guests can view andw learn about the native fish that live within Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, Cole added.
Being a volunteer for 18 years was not something that Cole anticipated to happen. He explained that previous superintendents John Beckel and Leon Johnson led the Game and Fish Building operations for 25 years, and after had asked him to volunteer.
What Cole anticipated would be five years at most, turned into almost two decades of volunteering to help run the exhibits for the county fair. Despite receiving the award, Cole stated that he was “inspired” by all the volunteers who put together the fair events and organize the week for all to enjoy.
“Volunteers make our fair great,” he said. “It brings our community together. We really couldn’t do this without them.”
Mower County Free Fair Schedule – Wednesday, Aug. 8 (Daycare Day)
Grandstand Event
- 56 Speedway Go-Cart Racing, 7 p.m.
Beer Garden
- ARENA, hosted by the Mapleview Fire Department, 8 p.m.
Carnival
- Opens at 3 p.m., wristbands $22, 5-10 p.m.
Fair Square
- Day Care Activities, 10 a.m.
- Rad Zoo, noon to 5 p.m.
- Rad Zoo Presentation, noon and 4:30 p.m.
- AP AC Various Games, 1-6 p.m.
- Annabelle Maher, 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Who Let the Mama’s Out, 7 p.m.