The little ones love the rides … like this mini roller coaster with speeds and inclines just perfect for them. Tina L. Scott photo.
Another Lincoln County 4-H Free Fair is in the books, after drawing thousands to the Merrill Festival Grounds for a traditional county fair and all that that entails. This year’s theme was “Moov’in On with Tradition!” … and the Aug. 17-21, 2022, Lincoln County Fair did not disappoint. Rides, games, music, exhibits, food, and fun combined with decent weather, bringing in families and kids of all ages, including those who are still just kids at heart. “I had fun …” said one local annual fair goer, Darlene Weirich of Merrill. “Maybe because I was a farm girl and it brings back all the memories of 4-H, taking all the exhibits, hoping for a blue ribbon.” Hundreds of volunteers and 4-H youth and their parents made it all possible, from the kids mucking the stalls and the volunteers who cleaned out the barns after the fair, to the local churches and organizations that cleaned, cooked, served, and then cleaned again in the permanent food stands on site. From the ticket takers for the grand stand shows to the people who picked up garbage on the grounds or in the stands, hundreds of individuals worked together to make it happen, for the 138th year. “I would like to give a blue ribbon to the people that put on the fair,” Weirich said, recognizing that it takes a small army to pull everything together. “Not only the Fair Board but the ones behind the scenes–preparing the food before the crowd comes … the kids getting their animals ready to be judged and growing vegetables, photography, woodworking, and all the other projects … the police … all that stood at the parking booths …” There were just too many to list. She said she thoroughly enjoyed herself. “The music in the tents was fantastic and fun … the rides and the games to play, hearing the laughter of the kids and [seeing their] bright happy eyes … seeing friends giving hugs …” And Weirich appreciated that Merrill’s fair is still free admission. “I support the Lincoln County Fair, and I paid for parking, but also walked in without paying (because you can),” she said. Monster truck mud bog racing, demo derby, free antique tractor pull, free horse show, butter carving, free ventriloquist show, horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, exhibits, live music, bands, beer, dancing, chickens, ferris wheel, win a goldfish game, vendors, exhibits, cheese curds, ice-cream, corndogs, fun house, bumper cars, hamburgers, animal auctions, calves, steer, ducks, bunnies … what was your favorite part of this year’s fair?
4-H youth displayed the fruits of months of labor as evidenced by 4-H club displays and individual entries into many categories of competition that helped them develop skills and abilities they will be able to use for a lifetime. No where is the amount of time and dedication that goes into their projects more evident than in the animal showing and the annual auction.
State Representative Calvin Callahan for the 35th Assembly District of Wisconsin, Merrill Mayor Steve Hass, Merrill City Clerk Lori Anderson-Malm, and Lincoln County District 8 Board Supervisor Laurie Thiel all decided they needed beer from the VFW beerstand to go along with their Optimist cheese curds. Tina L. Scott photo.More 4-H Club exhibits at the Lincoln County Fair, following this year’s fair theme: “Moovin’ On With Tradition.” Tina L. Scott photo.It wouldn’t be a county 4-H fair without beautifully groomed cows! Tina L. Scott photo.Local celebrities and representatives of local businesses compete in the butter carving contest. Tina L. Scott photo.What kid can resist the chance to drive a groovy 70’s style VW van, a/k/a a Grovvy Bus? Tina L. Scott photo.Exhibitors show off their collections in a variety of categories. Tina L. Scott photo.Fairgoers enjoy a break and a beer at the VFW beer tent, along with some visiting, live music, and people watching at the Fair on Friday afternoon. Tina L. Scott photo.A large crowd packed into, and spilled out of, the rotunda between the barns for the annual livestock market auction where the sheep, swine, and steers raised by local 4-H youth were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Tina L. Scott photo.Area 4-H clubs created booths representing their 4-H clubs and their interpretation of this year’s theme: “Moovin’ On With Tradition.” Tina L. Scott photo.Artwork encompassed a number of categories in the competition for blue ribbons at this year’s Lincoln County Fair. Tina L. Scott photo.The lure of the games and the chance to win a stuffed animal or a goldfish is strong. Tina L. Scott photo.It’s not ALL about the quest for a blue ribbon, but being recognized with blue and red ribbons, or as a Champion or Reserve Champion, is still a pretty big deal! Tina L. Scott photo.Merrill Eagles 584 and the Merrill VFW Post 1638 sponsored live entertainment in the beer garden/tent. Tina L. Scott photo.Crowds in the grand stand watch as demo car drivers get ready to start a heat in the Friday night demo derby. David Rampart photo.Merrill Mayor Steve Hass, Lincoln County Sheriff Ken Schneider, Merrill City Clerk Lori Anderson-Malm, State Assemblyman Calvin Callahan, and Lincoln County Supervisor Laurie Thiel all know that no visit to the fair is complete until you’ve had some Optimist Cheese Curds! Tina L. Scott photo.Madi Skic shows her animal as it is auctioned off to the highest bidder in the live market animal auction. Tina L. Scott photo.Walter Mootz, who is in quality control at and representing Weinbrenner Shoe Company, did a fine job representing the quality of workmanship in his own rendition of a Thorogood work boot carved from … butter … winning him the blue ribbon in the Friday afternoon butter carving contest. Tina L. Scott photo.
