rock county fair
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 30, 2025The Rock County Fair wrapped up over the weekend following four days of jam-packed activities that included everything from 4-H livestock to Open Class entries to popular grandstand attractions. According to Rock County Fair Board President Lee Sells, the 2025 event was a success. “This year we had higher attendance at all of our grandstand events,” he said. “With it being a free fair we don’t…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 30, 2025More than 660 people crowded into the grandstand Thursday night to be entertained by the fourth annual Donkey Races at the Rock County Fair. There were 10 five-person teams competing in the event in which Team Lorax emerged the winner. Lorax team members include Peyton Blom, Lanae Elbers, Adi Fink, Paige Moser and Cheyenne Schutz. The second-place winner was team Mario Bros comprised of Eli…
July 30, 2025The results reported for the Open Class competition at the 2025 Rock County Fair are as follows: Buckets of Flowers Best of Show: Judy Riple Reserve Best of Show: Jonna Dull Champion: Connie Wieneke Reserve Champions: Pat Reverts, Arlene Franchuk, Delores Halverson Baking Best of Show: Becky Sehr Reserve Best of show: Piper Meinerts Champion: Becky Sehr, Aryanna Gorter Reserve…
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorJuly 30, 2025Luverne’s Thomas Kracht, driving car No. 15, took first place in the 2025 Rock County Fair Enduro race Saturday, July 26, in Luverne. Kracht was the first driver to reach the 171-lap or two-hour race time limit in the event. This year’s Enduro featured 28 of 30 cars registered for the race. Of the 28 cars, 14 finished in driving condition and were able to place. In the small engine class…
By By Jason BerghorstJuly 23, 2025The Rock County Fair is underway at the fairgrounds in Luverne. The annual event began Wednesday, July 23, and continues through Saturday. Admission to the fair and most activities are free, except for nightly grandstand events. As usual, the fair includes many traditional elements as well as a number of new additions to the event. “Every year we work on bringing in new events to the fair…
By Rick Peterson, General managerJuly 23, 2025It is fair week – well, actually four days – but it has a week’s worth of fun and entertainment packed into those four days. If memory serves me right, the Minnesota State Fair’s slogan is the Great Minnesota Get-Together. I think that can be said about the Rock County Fair but on a smaller scale. My guess is that a very high percentage of the Rock County fairgoers are repeat visitors. I…
By Jason BerghorstJuly 23, 2025Eliot Cauwels is excited to show his Valais Blacknose sheep at the Rock County Fair today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. Cauwels, an incoming seventh-grader at Luverne Middle School, is entering the unique breed in his first 4-H sheep showcase. Nichole Cauwels said she and her son became aware of the Valais Blacknose sheep from internet posts. “I actually discovered them on Instagram,” Nichole said. “…
By Mavis FodnessJuly 31, 2024Ag Society President Lee Sells appeared relieved Monday night as society and 4-H volunteers cleaned the fairgrounds. For four days, July 24-27, the Ag Society hosted the annual Rock County Fair filled with entertainers, a midway, and grandstand events while working with the Extension service on qualifying classes for 4-H’ers to go to the upcoming state fair. The event seemed to go by in a blink…- July 31, 2024The results reported for the Open Class competition at the 2024 Rock County Fair are as follows: Buckets of Flowers •Champions: Pat R., Delores Halverson. •Reserve: Julie R., Connie Wieneke Field Crops •Best of Show: Callista Van Grootheest. •Reserve Best of Show: Scott Wessels. •Champions: Callista Van Grootheest, Wayne Brands, Eric Fick (2), Scott Wessels. •Reserve Champions:…
By Mavis FodnessJuly 31, 2024Saturday afternoon’s Premier Showmanship event featured four 4-H’ers who first came together as a group three years ago. While three of the four youth are related, they share a common bond as county fair and state fair exhibitors. They were also four of the six competitors in the showmanship contest. Claire Knobloch, Grace Fagerness, Jed Fagerness and Nathan Kinsinger sought each other out as…
By Mavis FodnessJuly 24, 2024The July 25 dairy show this week will mark the end of 20 years in 4-H for the Philip and Theresa Raak family of rural Jasper. Since 2004 there has been at least one Raak sibling in the show ring at the Rock County Fair. At first there was Matthew, now 28, followed in two-year intervals by Andrew, Joshua, Jacob and now Caleb, who is competing in his last Rock County Fair this week as an eligible…- By Jason BerghorstJuly 24, 2024The annual Rock County Fair is underway at the fairgrounds in Luverne. The fair opened Wednesday and continues through Saturday. Admission is free. “We are a free, non-gated fair,” said Fair Board President Lee Sells. He said there will be free live music and free entertainers and vendors on the fairgrounds throughout the fair. “We do everything we can with our budget to bring in many…
July 24, 2024Rock County 4-H’ers were busy Wednesday, July 17, and Monday, July 22, entering static projects for this week’s county fair. Judges were busy both days talking with 4-H’ers about their projects and awarding ribbons. Wednesday judging took place in air-conditioned comfort at the American Reformed Church in Luverne while Monday judging took place at the fairgrounds. The fair continues through…
By Rick Peterson, general managerJuly 25, 2023If you don’t know it’s fair week, you must be living under a rock. The four-day event actually takes months of planning and preparation by the volunteers that make up the Rock County Agricultural Society. The behind-the-scene work is so good you don’t even notice it. I mean that as a compliment. You probably won’t notice the freshly painted buildings, the new additional sidewalks and the upgrades…
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