Why come to the fair?

 
The 2015 version of the Rock County Fair is well underway this week, and those who haven’t yet been to the fairgrounds on South Freeman Avenue should make a point to get there.
Why? We aren’t going to offer a David Letterman “Top 10 Reasons,” but we can come up with a few good arguments.
•Agriculture is showcased at its best — The county fair is the one event that showcases our ag community at its best. Where else can you meet and greet the farm families who have worked hard all year to put their best feet (hooves) forward this week? Plus, there’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh hay, fresh manure and corn dogs all wafting through the air at once.
•Local talent is showcased all week long — It’s not just ag talent showcased at the fair. In addition to the Wednesday night talent show, the fair offers an opportunity for all community members — not just 4-H families — to show off what they’re good at.
4-H offers all kinds of ways for young people to develop interests and become better citizens. To see these thought-provoking projects, check out the 4-H exhibit hall.
Be sure to check out the Floral Hall at the fairgrounds to take in the myriad of Open Class entry categories ranging from wood carving, to flowers, to photography, to foods.
•Fair offers three nights of great entertainment — For the first time in many years, there are three major events booked in the grandstands at the fairgrounds.
Thursday night features Rock County Speedway races, Friday is the big Arch Allies concert (which was wildly popular last year) and Saturday, of course, is the annual Enduro Races.
The extra grandstand entertainment meant the Thursday night Talent Show was moved to the Palace Theatre on Wednesday, but it was also an opportunity for the Fair Board to bring in more revenue — which is good news for all things fair-related.
•Come for the food, obviously — If there’s no other reason to come to the fair, food should be reason enough. Our local pork, beef and dairy associations have fine-tuned their offerings, and the 4-H eat stand is always a good bet for a solid meal.
Don’t forget to save room for midway food. Yes, it’s unhealthy, but it’s a once-in-a-summer time to splurge on funnel cakes, donut holes, cotton candy, corn dogs and other entrees on a stick.
•It’s the perfect community get-together — Top the whole thing off with a stop at the beer gardens or an extra ice cream cone from the Dairy Booth and see who else you can bump into that you haven’t seen in awhile.
The Rock County Fair draws people from all over the county and the tri-state area. Get out and mingle. Enjoy. There’s a reason the Minnesota State Fair calls its event “The Great Minnesota Get-Together.”
The fair will be in progress from now through Saturday night. Stop by the Star Herald booth in the commercial building for a chance to win Arch Allies tickets.
For a full schedule of events and details, visit the Rock County Fair Facebook page or read Sunday’s Announcer.