2012 dakota county fair

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ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENTJuly 27, 2012

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2B July 27, 2012 Sun ThiSweek ADVeRTiSinG SuPPLeMenT

Fair returns with a few twistsby Laura Adelmann

Sun ThiSweek

There are a few new twists to some old family favorites planned for the Dakota County Fair, which runs Aug. 6-12 in Farmington. The crowd-pleasing demolition derby smash-ups at the Tuesday, Aug. 7, grandstand show will have contestants working in teams of three – instead of as individuals – to be the last cars running. Cars must be vintage 1980s and newer to qualify for the race. Rules of engagement remain the same: Smash into another’s souped-up beater while protecting your vehicle’s front-end, but it may prove more entertaining as com-petitors will get creative with a new teamwork-style showmanship. “we wanted to try something new this year,” said Caitlin Cock-er, office assistant for the Dakota County Agricultural Society that oversees the Dakota County Fair-

grounds and annual county fair. “Since the demo derbies are really popular, we thought this would be a fun idea,” Cocker said. “And, it’s a way to get more people involved.” Other derby favorites will re-turn, including the 80s heats, old iron runs and powder puff derbies, featuring women participants. Many other crowd-drawing favorite fair staples will return, including the midway rides and games, arts and crafts displays, savory on-a-stick samplings and opportunities for a close-up with a chicken, cow or sheep. Thrills are on tap for crowds at the extreme bull riding event at the grandstand on Thursday at 7 p.m., and some big-name entertainment is scheduled at the week’s end. unpredictable fun is in store when the Johnny holm Band re-

Annual celebration runs Aug. 6-12

Photo by Rick Orndorf

The midway at the Dakota County Fair has a wide range of rides for people to satisfy their personal thrill. The Ferris wheel often is a main attraction. See NEw TwISTS, 4B

Sun ThiSweek ADVeRTiSinG SuPPLeMenT July 27, 2012 3B


turns to rock the fair’s beer garden stage at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, and popular country band hitchville will take that same stage at 8:30 p.m. Friday. For a night of fired-up bluegrass, Lost highway Band will entertain crowds at the beer garden stage at 8:30 p.m. Satur-day. Following tradition, there are special days at the fair: kids Day is Tuesday, and gate admission for children is $1,

when they are accompanied by an adult. every day, children under 5 get in free. Military Day is wednesday, and all military personnel and their family re-ceive free parking and admission to the fairgrounds. Senior Day is Thursday, and all peo-ple age 60 and up also receive free park-ing and admission. heritage Village will be open during the fair, and feature costumed interpret-ers demonstrating the activities of 100 years ago.

Visitors will be able to tour 22 historic buildings, including a blacksmith shop, newspaper office and schoolhouse. entertainment includes roving musi-cians and bucket brigades demonstra-tions; visitors can also visit indoor mu-seum exhibits and agricultural displays at the village, adjacent to the Dakota County Fairgrounds. Fair admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, 6-12 and seniors age 60 and up; parking is $5. Grandstand show admission is $12 for

adults and $6 for children; tickets may be purchased at the event or online at www.dakotacountyfair.org, where ticket dis-count packages are also available. “There’s something for everyone here,” Cocker said. “You can spend your whole day here and it’s a great experience for the whole family.”

Laura Adelmann is at [email protected] or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

NEw TwISTS, from 2B


4-H participants

put on a variety show,

which is called Arts-In Performance,

during the Dakota

County Fair each year.


The motorcross races at the Dakota County Fair Grandstand are

often a big attendance draw. The races will be held Monday, Aug. 6.


There will be scores of

competitions for 4-H

youths during the Dakota

County Fair, which runs from Aug.

6-12.

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SATurDAy, AuG. 412:30-2:30 p.m. – 4-h Small engines Contest, 4-h Building

SunDAy, AuG. 5 11 a.m. – 4-h Dog Shownoon-3 p.m. – 4-h Dairy, Beef Cow/Calf entries start

MonDAy, AuG. 6 All day – 4-h Share the Fun, Performing Arts, Clowning and Co.wolves, woods, and wildlife8 a.m. – 4-h horse Judging-english8-9 a.m. – 4-h Llamas entered2-3 p.m. – 4-h Beef Cow/Calf Judging2-3 p.m. – 4-h Communication Contest Registration and Judging3-6 p.m. – 4-h Rabbits entered, Rabbit Skillathon4-10 p.m. – Denny Pony Rides6-7 p.m. – Amateur Talent Contest, en-tertainment Stage6:30 a.m. – 4-h Llama Judging7 p.m. – 4-h Drill Team Performance7 p.m. – Motocross, Grandstand

TueSDAy, AuG. 7 All day-Denny Pony Rideswolves, woods, and wildlife8 a.m. – 4-h horse Judging-western9 a.m. – 4-h Dairy Judging9 a.m.. – 4-h Rabbit Judging10 a.m.-noon – needlecraft Demonstra-tion1-6 p.m. – 4-h Traditional Demonstra-tions2-3 p.m. – 4-h Bird Calling Competition2-3 p.m. – 4-h Pet & Cat Show Judging, including Cloverbuds6-7 p.m. – Amateur Talent Contest, en-tertainment Stage7 p.m. – 4-h Drill Team Performance7 p.m. – 4-h Fashion Revue

7 p.m. – Team Demolition Derby, Grandstand8-9:30 p.m. – 4-h Dairy, Beef Cow/Calf, Feeder Calf and Llamas

WeDneSDAy, AuG. 8 All day-Denny Pony Rideswolves, woods, and wildlife8 a.m. – 4-h horse Judging-Games9 a.m.-noon – 4-h Swine entered10 a.m.-noon – needlecraft Demonstra-tion12 noon-9 p.m. – 4-h Youth in Action Demonstrations1-3:30 p.m. – 4-h Breeding heifer/Mar-ket Beef entered2-3 p.m. – 4-h Rabbits Released4-6 p.m. – 4-h Market Beef weigh-in4-8 p.m. – 4-h Traditional Demonstra-tions5 p.m. – Salsa Contest7 p.m. – 4-h Drill Team Performance7 p.m. – Tractor Pull, Grandstand

THurSDAy, AuG. 9 All day-Denny Pony Rideswolves, woods, and wildlife8 a.m. – 4-h horse Judging-Games8 a.m. – 4-h Swine Judging8:30 a.m. – 4-h Poultry Judging10 a.m.-noon needlecraft Demonstra-tionnoon-12:30 4-h Fleece enterednoon-1 p.m. – 4-h Sheep and Goats en-tered1-3 p.m. – needlecraft Demonstration2:30 p.m. – 4-h Dairy Steer Judging3-5 p.m. – 4-h Goat Skillathon5 p.m. – 4-h Lamb Lead/Fleece Show5:30 p.m. – Pie Contest6:30 p.m. – 4-h Beef Breeding heifer Judging7 p.m. – 4-h Arts in7 p.m. – 4-h Drill Team Performance7 p.m. – X-Treme Bull Riding, Grand-stand

Dakota County Fair Schedule of Events

7:30 p.m. – 4-h horse Awards Presenta-tions8:45 p.m.-12:15 a.m. – Johnny holm Band, Beer Garden Stage

FrIDAy, AuG. 10 All day-Denny Pony Rideswolves, woods, and wildlife8 a.m. – 4-h Sheep Judging9 a.m. – 4-h Market Beef, Market heifer Judgingnoon – 4-h Goat Judging2 p.m. – 4-h Cloverbud Demonstrations5 p.m. – 4-h Rabbit Agility Judging5 p.m. – Dorothy neil Showmanship Contest5:30 p.m. – Cake Contest7 p.m. – 4-h Arts in7:30 p.m. – Demolition Derby, Grand-standSaturday, Aug. 11 All day-Denny Pony Rides wolves, woods, and wildlife10 a.m. – 4-h Livestock Auction

10 a.m. – Barbecue Contest10:30 a.m. – Adult Chocolate Dessert Contest10:30 a.m. – kids Cookie/Brownie/Bar Contestnoon-4 p.m. – 4-h Family Fun Day1-3 p.m. – needlecraft Demonstration4 p.m. – 4-h Arts in6-7 p.m. – Amateur Talent Contest Fi-nals, entertainment Stage7 p.m. – 4-h Arts in7 p.m. – Jackpot Lamb Show7:30 p.m. – Demolition Derby, Grand-stand8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Lost highway, Beer Garden Stage

SunDAy, AuG. 12 All day-4-h Champion Awards Programwolves, woods, and wildlife10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Denny Pony Rides1-3 p.m. – Demolition Derby, Grand-stand2-3 p.m. – 4-h Arts in

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by Tad JohnsonSun ThiSweek

Some Dakota County Fair food booths will fea-ture warm, gooey slices of pizza, but they won’t be able to challenge the size of one “pizza” at the fair. Alongside the red barn at the fairgrounds in Farmington is the Dakota County Master Garden-ers’s Pizza Gar-den. The 2012 ver-sion of the Chil-dren’s Garden not only resembles a giant pizza, but it also aims to teach children about the joys and tasti-ness of growing their own vegeta-bles and herbs. “kid friendly gardening for food, discovery and joy of learning is an underestimated source of education and exercise,” said Gail Maifeld, a Dakota County Master Gardener. “So, why not create a garden that will provide a kid-friendly favorite meal?” That was the thought behind the garden, which is filled with many pizza ingredients. The Master Gardeners started planning the proj-ect in February. when they ran across the picture of a “pizza garden” in a magazine, they decided to test their expertise on a similar project. Past children’s garden efforts have included a focus on gourds, herbs and a “scratch and sniff” theme. with each garden, the group aims to present garden-ing as a fun and educational outdoor activity. Maifeld said she has been impressed at past fairs by the children’s knowledge of many of the plants that grow in their gardens. She’s also been impressed with men who are interested in gardening and cooking. “Several of us are former teachers, so interacting with people is lots of fun,” Maifeld said of the booth that also includes a space for children to try a coloring activity. The gardeners’s main goal is to communicate that people can grow a variety of plants in a small plot of land on their suburban residential lots. Maifeld said she’s noticed an uptick in the number of suburban

gardens in large part because of the enjoy-ment they supply – and the true “fruits” of one’s labor. Visitors must realize that the picturesque Pizza Garden didn’t just spring up over-night. The seven-mem-ber committee is in charge of buying the plants and seeds. Then there’s tilling,

raking, planting ... and weeding – lots of weeding. “This looks so easy,” Maifeld said. “But many people don’t know all the work that goes into it.” The garden plot is located on a for-mer pig pen, so it’s fertile soil for grow-ing plants, including weeds. “This one has been fun,” Maifeld said. “we are always amazed at how it grows.” Lemon drop marigolds outline the 5-foot circle and each of the four pizza

slices. within each slice are four plants: sweet basil, oregano, peppers, and Roma tomatoes. For the hot and spicy taste buds, a circle of peppers – hot chili, burning bush, jalapeno, hot savory and cay-enne – has been planted. Mild peppers including orange blaze, sweet banana and California wonder are in this pizza. “The yellow, green, red and orange colorful vegeta-bles, each with their unique slender or orb type shape add intrigue,” Maifeld said. “These additional choices allow for individualism and the discovery of the taste bud.” Six tomato varieties are present. “Children can discover different textures, juiciness, and shapes from these different varieties,” Maifeld said.

People won’t have any problem find-ing the garden as the group’s gazebo has been decorated like a pizza shack and is accompanied by life-size pizza chef cutout that children can poke their face out from for a photograph. The Children’s Garden Committee includes: Maifeld, Pam Behnke, LaVonne Loerch, nancy Ross, Patricia Ross, Bren-da Scheer and kamille white.

Tad Johnson can be reached at [email protected] or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

How does your Pizza Garden grow? Master gardeners aim to teach children, their parents the joy of the activity

Photo submitted

The Dakota County Master Gardeners have planted the Pizza Garden in the shape of the popular baked treat, which will serve as the 2012 Children’s Garden at the Dakota County Fair.

Photo submitted

Peppers, both spicy and sweet, are planted in the Pizza Garden, which is located next to the red barn at the Dakota County Fairgrounds.

Photo submitted

Dakota County Master Gardeners will talk to visitors to their display at the Dakota County Fair about how they can make their own tasty treats using the kind of herbs and vegetables grown in the Pizza Garden.

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Dakota City seeks fair demonstrators Dakota City heritage Village is seek-ing demonstrators who can show 1900s crafts and skills during the Dakota County Fair Aug. 6-12. Crafts might in-clude woodcarving, embroidering, knit-ting, spinning and weaving. For more information, call Dakota City at (651) 460-8050.

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2012 dakota county fair

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