HEART OF STEELE

For those of you who are counting, just 27 days remain until the opening of the Steele County Free Fair (SCFF).

So we are in full fair mode at the Times. Each reporter–including our intern, Jonny Clubb–has assignments due for the SCFF special section going out next month and for each week before the big event.

Because the Ellendale City Council met last Thursday night, I replaced reporter Kay Fate at the SCFF Board of Directors meeting in the Mother’s Rest building. This was new to me in every way–I’d never been inside Mother’s Rest, it’s lovely–and my first fair board meeting.

This close to the fair, I expected a sense of urgency. Maybe even a little mild panic.

We’re talking about an event with myriad moving parts–a carnival, food vendors, all kinds of stage shows, 4-H exhibits, animals, demonstrations, and competitions, just for starters. Best guesses have attendance pegged at more than 300,000 people from all around the region.

But the atmosphere was anything but tense. Conversations carried on before the meeting started, people caught up with each other and talked about the rain, or lack of it. Everyone seemed relaxed and at home among friends.

As I listened to the fair’s financial report and updates, I was amazed by how smoothly things appear to be going–from groundskeeping to 4-H entries to ticket sales and putting up posters. And I think I understand why.

While manager Scott Kozelka is probably the most visible person associated with the SCFF, there’s a whole team of people involved. In addition to the board of directors, there’s a 5-member office staff, and the fair website lists superintendents for more than 50 aspects of the fair–from aerial photography to youth livestock judging.

I think especially with big events like SCFF, we tend to take for granted what goes into making sure it all goes off without a hitch. A lot of people with a real heart for their community and for the Steele County Free Fair are working hard to make sure there’s “Satisfaction Guaranteed in 2023”.

Thanks to all of them, I can’t wait for fair week!