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Weather varied as much as Rock County Fair events and activities

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Extreme heat, smoke haze from wildfires, rain and sunshine occur over four-day event
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By
Mavis Fodness

The 2021 Rock County Fair promised “something for everyone” during its July 28-31 run, and the weather offered variety of its own.
“Each day was different,” said Adam Kinsinger, Rock County Ag Society president.
“We had extreme heat, smoke, rain and sunshine. Thankfully, it didn’t slow people down.”
Kinsinger estimated more than 700 people filled the grandstands for the Thursday night, July 29, tractor pull with another 100 people watching from the infield.
Another 700 attended the Enduros Saturday night, July 31.
Temperatures began rising Wednesday, and by Thursday reached into the mid-90s.
Humidity levels were also high, keeping overnight temperature lows in the 70s.
The Minnesota Department of Health issued an air quality alert for nearly all of Minnesota for the first three days of the Rock County Fair.
In a press release, Health Department officials explained northerly winds behind a cold front brought smoke from wildfires in Canada into Minnesota.
The smoke reduced visibility in the area while the cold front dropped temperatures into the mid-80s Friday along with some rain for Rock County.
For much of this summer, the county has been under moderate to severe drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Friday’s rain postponed the Ag Society’s community night, when the grandstand’s infield filled with water from the day’s rain.
Rain amounts varied from just over a half inch to more than an inch of rain over a 24-hour period.
The community event, which featured a free meal, may be rescheduled for later this month or early September, Kinsinger said.
Sunshine returned on Saturday with temperatures almost 20 degrees cooler than Thursday (Saturday’s high was recorded at 69 degrees at the Luverne airport.)
The ideal fair weather brought people out to the fairgrounds for the last day of the fair.
“I think this year’s fair was a success,” Kinsinger said. “It was great to have everyone here again!”
In 2020 the pandemic canceled the free county fair events while 4-H conducted a virtual fair for general projects and a showcase for each livestock category that only 4-H’ers and their immediate families could attend.

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