Plymouth County Fair brings 'Best 5 days of summer'
By Judy Bowman Journal correspondent | Posted: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
LE MARS, Iowa -- If you're looking for "The best 5 Days of summer," the Plymouth County Fair in Le Mars is the place to go, according to fair organizers. The 67th annual fair opens today for a five-day run.
LE MARS, Iowa -- If you're looking for "The best 5 Days of summer," the Plymouth County Fair in Le Mars is the place to go, according to fair organizers. The 67th annual fair opens today for a five-day run.
Taking the reins of the summer show is Terry Reuter of Le Mars, chairman of the 25-member fair board.
"We just want to put on a good show for everybody that comes," he said of this year's fair.
Reuter has been a part of the Plymouth County Fair for 50 years, having grown up in the Elgin American Eagles 4-H Club.
When he became chairman of the fair board in January after 18 years on the board, Reuter had to give up another job: superintendent of the swine show for more than a decade.
Reuter and his wife, Janeen, are the parents of four children, Eric, Matt, Tony and Brenda who all are former 4-H'ers. Terry Reuter himself was a leader of the American Eagles.
All three sons help Reuter with farm work so that he has time to oversee the fair. Son Matt volunteered to help with the construction of the new first aid station on the fairgrounds. During the fair, Janeen Reuter works in the fair office.
The whole Reuter family has a reason to celebrate at the fair. Reuter is in his eighth year of being cancer-free.
In his first year as board chairman, he is hoping this year's theme of the "Best 5 days" will live up to its claim.
With high gas and food prices, Reuter said he is expecting many area residents to take what has become known as a "staycation" and stay close to home by attending the Plymouth County Fair.
Last year, attendance surpassed 90,000 to put Plymouth County in the top three county fairs in the state, Reuter noted.
"I think it's going to be steady and good every night," Reuter said. "We've really got some good entertainment... Our ticket prices haven't changed. It's still a good bargain."
Reuter said many foodstands also have made an attempt to hold the line in pricing as much as possible.
"I hope with the Wednesday night show we've got, it will bring a few more," Reuter said referring to something new -- Impact Pro Wrestling, which will follow the 7 p.m. crowning of the king and queen at the grandstand.
Impact Pro Wrestling features a Midwestern professional wrestling group out of Algona, Iowa.
"They're good hometown type people," Reuter said of the wrestling group which will feature 16 or more wrestlers performing several matches, including one-on-one, an eight-man scramble, along with a match in which 20 people will be in the ring at once.
The grandstand will hold up to 6,000 people after undergoing a facelift two years ago.
"Everybody's got a good seat," Reuter said.
Much of the action each night will be in the historic Pioneer Village, anchored by the Round Barn, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Entertainment in the village may be the best line-up the fair board has ever seen, Reuter said. One of the features will be a North Dakota native who grew up riding horses and herding cattle and is now a vocalist based in Nashville. Gwen Sebastian will hit the stage Thursday night with a mix, focusing on country music.
The fair also has booked local entertainment in the Browns, a family based in the LeMars area; they have just just cut their 10th CD and will perform in the village at 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday.
The Pioneer Village has a new look in places. Blair House, which is the 4-H headquarters, has a new front porch. The original spindles from the porch which were in storage have been returned to one side of the porch. Eagle Scout Matt Klein helped with the steps. Gary Ellensohn worked on the porch.
Boy Scouts also helped with the board walk which now connects all of the historic buildings on the east side of the village.
"It really looks authentic all the way down," Reuter said of the wooden walk.
Also in Pioneer Village, the Joy Hollow Log Cabin has new tenants -- the Plymouth County Conservation Board. Prairie grasses and flowers planted last year are a part of the exhibit outside the cabin.
Plymouth County Fair
Today
7 a.m.: Tickets go on sale at fairgrounds
9 a.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building opens
Noon: Commercial exhibits, Blair House open
1 p.m.: 4-H and FFA Rabbit Show in tent by Rabbit Barn
4-H Clothing Selection and Fashion Revue in Century Hall
2 p.m.: 4-H and FFA livestock judging contest in Covered Arena
4 to 8 p.m.: Lego booth south of Hall of '84
5 p.m.: Midway rides open
6 p.m.: Bucket calf judging at Covered Arena
Lumber Jacks south of Beef Barn
7 p.m.: King and Queen crowning at Grandstand
7:30 p.m.: Impact Pro Wrestling at Grandstand
8 p.m.: Pioneer Village Stage: Keri Lea and Runnin' on Empty Band, Nashville;
Lumber Jacks south of Beef Barn
9 p.m. Teen dance in Century Hall
9 p.m.: Pioneer Village Stage: Keri Lea and Runnin' on Empty Band, Nashville
10 p.m.: 4-H and commercial exhibits, Blair House close
LE MARS, Iowa -- If you're looking for "The best 5 Days of summer," the Plymouth County Fair in Le Mars is the place to go, according to fair organizers. The 67th annual fair opens today for a five-day run.
Taking the reins of the summer show is Terry Reuter of Le Mars, chairman of the 25-member fair board.
"We just want to put on a good show for everybody that comes," he said of this year's fair.
Reuter has been a part of the Plymouth County Fair for 50 years, having grown up in the Elgin American Eagles 4-H Club.
When he became chairman of the fair board in January after 18 years on the board, Reuter had to give up another job: superintendent of the swine show for more than a decade.
Reuter and his wife, Janeen, are the parents of four children, Eric, Matt, Tony and Brenda who all are former 4-H'ers. Terry Reuter himself was a leader of the American Eagles.
All three sons help Reuter with farm work so that he has time to oversee the fair. Son Matt volunteered to help with the construction of the new first aid station on the fairgrounds. During the fair, Janeen Reuter works in the fair office.
The whole Reuter family has a reason to celebrate at the fair. Reuter is in his eighth year of being cancer-free.
In his first year as board chairman, he is hoping this year's theme of the "Best 5 days" will live up to its claim.
With high gas and food prices, Reuter said he is expecting many area residents to take what has become known as a "staycation" and stay close to home by attending the Plymouth County Fair.
Last year, attendance surpassed 90,000 to put Plymouth County in the top three county fairs in the state, Reuter noted.
"I think it's going to be steady and good every night," Reuter said. "We've really got some good entertainment... Our ticket prices haven't changed. It's still a good bargain."
Reuter said many foodstands also have made an attempt to hold the line in pricing as much as possible.
"I hope with the Wednesday night show we've got, it will bring a few more," Reuter said referring to something new -- Impact Pro Wrestling, which will follow the 7 p.m. crowning of the king and queen at the grandstand.
Impact Pro Wrestling features a Midwestern professional wrestling group out of Algona, Iowa.
"They're good hometown type people," Reuter said of the wrestling group which will feature 16 or more wrestlers performing several matches, including one-on-one, an eight-man scramble, along with a match in which 20 people will be in the ring at once.
The grandstand will hold up to 6,000 people after undergoing a facelift two years ago.
"Everybody's got a good seat," Reuter said.
Much of the action each night will be in the historic Pioneer Village, anchored by the Round Barn, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Entertainment in the village may be the best line-up the fair board has ever seen, Reuter said. One of the features will be a North Dakota native who grew up riding horses and herding cattle and is now a vocalist based in Nashville. Gwen Sebastian will hit the stage Thursday night with a mix, focusing on country music.
The fair also has booked local entertainment in the Browns, a family based in the LeMars area; they have just just cut their 10th CD and will perform in the village at 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday.
The Pioneer Village has a new look in places. Blair House, which is the 4-H headquarters, has a new front porch. The original spindles from the porch which were in storage have been returned to one side of the porch. Eagle Scout Matt Klein helped with the steps. Gary Ellensohn worked on the porch.
Boy Scouts also helped with the board walk which now connects all of the historic buildings on the east side of the village.
"It really looks authentic all the way down," Reuter said of the wooden walk.
Also in Pioneer Village, the Joy Hollow Log Cabin has new tenants -- the Plymouth County Conservation Board. Prairie grasses and flowers planted last year are a part of the exhibit outside the cabin.
Plymouth County Fair
Today
7 a.m.: Tickets go on sale at fairgrounds
9 a.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building opens
Noon: Commercial exhibits, Blair House open
1 p.m.: 4-H and FFA Rabbit Show in tent by Rabbit Barn
4-H Clothing Selection and Fashion Revue in Century Hall
2 p.m.: 4-H and FFA livestock judging contest in Covered Arena
4 to 8 p.m.: Lego booth south of Hall of '84
5 p.m.: Midway rides open
6 p.m.: Bucket calf judging at Covered Arena
Lumber Jacks south of Beef Barn
7 p.m.: King and Queen crowning at Grandstand
7:30 p.m.: Impact Pro Wrestling at Grandstand
8 p.m.: Pioneer Village Stage: Keri Lea and Runnin' on Empty Band, Nashville;
Lumber Jacks south of Beef Barn
9 p.m. Teen dance in Century Hall
9 p.m.: Pioneer Village Stage: Keri Lea and Runnin' on Empty Band, Nashville
10 p.m.: 4-H and commercial exhibits, Blair House close
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