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Fairgoers and fair organizers alike are happy with the events at last week’s Rock County Fair.
“Overall we had a good fair,” said Fair Board President Isaac DeBoer. “We had a lot of compliments on the midway and Discover Center.”
The midway included several additional rides including “The Screamer,” a pendulum ride that rotated riders into the air. Several amusement favorites were also returned for younger riders including the merry-go-round.
John and Laura Radley of Luverne spent two days at the fair with grandchildren Rome, 5, and Azalea, 3.
“I like the rides — the dizzy dragons,” Rome said.
Animals drew Azalea’s interest.
“We are not a farm family,” John Radley added. “You see them out in the field, not up close. And not as cleaned up.”
In addition to the 4-H animal exhibits and the Wild Things Zoo, the Discover Center was an added animal attraction to the Rock County Fair.
Pipestone System sponsored the Miracle of Birth exhibit featuring a sow. She gave birth to 16 piglets Friday morning.
Michael Coleman of Brookings, South Dakota, was one of several technicians supervising the exhibit located in the rabbit and poultry barn.
One particular question was repeatedly asked to Coleman: What are their names?
“We try not to give them names,” he said. “We don’t want to get too attached.”
Discovery Center also featured an incubator where chicken eggs were hatched, interactive displays and videos on ag production.
A Rock County 4-H family adopted the sow and her piglets at fair’s end.
This year’s fair has 58 4-H’ers qualifying for the upcoming Minnesota State Fair shows.
“The fair is the highlight of my year because I get to watch all the kids participate in something they love,” said 4-H program coordinator Kelsey Maeschen. “This year, the Rock County Fair was the best one I’ve been a part of yet.”
New this year for 4-H’ers was the youth Cook-Off event.
Six four-member teams competed in the event where the youth competed to see who could best put together a meal featuring an 8 oz. steak.
Judges selected the “Beef Buddies” team as cooking the best dish. The team of Danette Leendeerts, Drew Leenderts, Claire Popkes and Austin Ossefoort prepared steak fajitas.