County Fairs

2008 Akron Scarecrow Festival (09/22/08)

Akron scarecrows greet folks looking for good time (09/19/08)
Get ready to scare up a good time at the "Great Akron Scarecrow Festival" Saturday. The event is open to the public at 10 a.m. and will last until around 5 p.m. at Akron City Park. A display of at least 4-foot-tall stuffed scarecrows of all kinds -- fat, skinny, ghoulish, friendly -- are the main focus of the festival...

Farm Bureau honors Conley with Service to Ag award (09/03/08)
A longtime Le Mars area veterinarian was honored with the Plymouth County Farm Bureau's "Service to Agriculture" award Tuesday evening at the organization's 90th annual meeting. Dr. John Conley and his wife, Barbara, of rural Merrill, were called to the stage by President Mark Loutsch, who explained the award is given to those in Plymouth County who have contributed much of their lives toward the helping and development of agriculture...

Le Mars proves good host for bluegrass fest (09/02/08)
Bluegrass music and fiddle tunes drew around 10,000 people to Le Mars last week. Sheila Everhart, of Anita, one of the coordinators of the Old Time Country and Bluegrass Music Festival, said that turnout was good for the 33rd annual festival's first year at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds...

Family meets family: Stenekers bring music and Dutch culture to Vaske home (08/29/08)
The Vaske house is usually abuzz -- Dave and Ruth Vaske have six children -- but lately there's been more music. And a little more Dutch. The Le Mars family is hosting none other than "the Godfather of Dutch Country Music" himself -- Ben Steneker. Ben and his daughter Carmen Steneker traveled from the Netherlands to Iowa to perform at the Old Time Country and Bluegrass Music Festival...

Music festival uses hotel/motel tax grant to bring people to Le Mars (08/28/08)
A Hotel/Motel Sales Tax grant is paying off for Le Mars. More than $6,000 of the 5 percent sales tax revenue from hotel and motel rooms rented in town was given to a group advertising the 33rd annual National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Music Festival, held this year in Le Mars for the first time...

Hammered dulcimer plays its way through history (08/28/08)
Gene Goergen, tucked away behind a building in a relatively quiet place, practiced playing his hammered dulcimer at the Old Time Country and Bluegrass Festival Wednesday at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Goergen, of Sioux City, didn't grow up playing a musical instrument, but when he heard a dulcimer played in a park in San Diego, Calif. it caught his interest...

Tipi Village brings history to life for music lovers (08/27/08)
Visitors can travel back in time to the 1800s through Tipi Village this week at the Old Time Country and Bluegrass Music Festival. Construction of Tipi Village started Tuesday in Pioneer Village at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds as village people began erecting canvas tents and tepees...

Telling stories on a 12-string: New Zealand man followed music a long way (08/26/08)
Some people are born with an ear for music. Dusty Spittle was born without one. On his right side, the New Zealand man doesn't have an eardrum, and his right "ear" is actually a skin graft from his shoulder. But that didn't stop him from writing and performing music, rising to be a New Zealand star in the old time country music scene...

Flood benefit showcases old-time country musicians (08/25/08)
Saturday night's Country Music fundraiser for flood victims in the Cedar Rapids area raised nearly $1,200. It also gave area residents and guests a taste of the music to be presented at the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival and Contest at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds starting today (Monday) and running through Sunday, Aug. 31...

Old time music fest begins Monday (08/22/08)
Campers from across the nation are already filling up the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Musicians are warming up their acoustic guitars and banjos. The National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Festival -- a gathering of more than 600 artists -- begins Monday, Aug. 25, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 31...

Saturday country music show will benefit flood victims (08/19/08)
A benefit for flood victims at Cedar Rapids with old-time country music will fill the Plymouth County Historical Museum this Saturday, Aug. 23, and give a preview of music to be enjoyed at the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival set for Aug. 25-31 in Le Mars...

Akron man receives lifesaving award (08/12/08)
An 18-year-old Akron man was honored by Iowa's governor at the state fair on Friday for risking his own life to save another's. Shawn Milbrodt received a 2008 Governor's Lifesaving Award for helping save a 19-year-old's life last July. On July 20, 2007, Jason Bumsted, 19, was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle where both cars caught fire. Shawn Milbrodt and Grant Krentz, 21, of Sioux City, drove upon the accident shortly thereafter...

Evans advances in Bill Riley Talent Search at Iowa State Fair (08/12/08)
A Le Mars girl has advanced to the semi-finals in the Sprout Division of Bill Riley's 49th annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Chloe Evans, 9, of Le Mars, will perform again on Thursday, Aug. 14. She qualified for the talent search with a piano solo...

Old-Time Country Music fest brings hundreds of performers to Le Mars (08/11/08)
Le Mars and the Plymouth County Fairgrounds will be the place to be as the 33rd Annual National Old-Time Country & Bluegrass Festival and Contest comes to town Aug. 25-31. Organized by Bob and Sheila Everhart of Anita, the festival features old-time traditional country, bluegass, folk, ragtime, cowboy, mountain and all types of acoustical music...

SRTS will offer rides to country music festival (08/06/08)
Those attending the country and bluegrass festival later this month can catch a ride with the Siouxland Regional Transit System (SRTS) at its regular fee rate. Supervisor Don Kass told the Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday a SRTS bus will be available within Le Mars to take people to and from festival, which will be at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds...

Dave Grosenheider is fair's 2008 Hall of Fame inductee (07/31/08)
The Plymouth County Fair's 2008 Hall of Fame award recipient wasn't listening as fair board president Terry Reuter began his presentation on the opening night of the fair. He soon perked up as Reuter mentioned KLEM in his talk. Dave Grosenheider, director of sales for Powell Broadcasting, was presented with the Hall of Fame award at Century Hall, preceding the royalty coronation which he was preparing to emcee. Radio station KLEM in Le Mars is a part of the Powell group...

Fairgoers rate economy first in election (07/31/08)
Presidential candidates better know more about money than how to spend it, according to a survey conducted at the Plymouth County Fair. In a questionaire given to 500 voting-age fairgoers at the Plymouth County Republicans' booth, responders solidly placed "The Economy" as the leading issue that would influence their vote...

Life Skills quilt auction sets new record (07/30/08)
A new record, both number of quilts and dollars raised, was set at the 12th annual Life Skills Foundation Quilt Auction Saturday in Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. The 56 items on the auction block raised $11,805 for the Life Skills Foundation...

Fair auction sets record for total sale (07/29/08)
Sunday afternoon's hot, muggy weather made for some quick bidding at the 2008 Fair Auction in Pioneer Village on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Auctioneer Bruce Brock kept the pace brisk as fair royalty displayed the items for sale. When it was finished, $23,335 was added to the fair's treasury, the highest auction total ever. The previous high total was $21,395 in 2000...

Ohlrichs shows champion market beef (07/28/08)
Denton Ohlrichs made his debut appearance as a showman at the Plymouth County Fair beef show on Friday. It was a day the 10-year-old Merrill boy will never forget. His chances for winning the grand champion market beef trophy looked good after the two steers he showed took top places in both divisions during the show. Those steers competed with the champion heifer, shown by Colton Beaulieu, Sioux City, and the champion performance beef, shown by Mitchell Hoefling, Merrill...

Rain doesn't dampen enthusiasm for fair (07/28/08)
Despite a burned extension cord at the Round Barn and a rainy start, the Plymouth County Fair went off without a hitch. Terry Reuter, fair board president, said there was a minor incident Friday at the Round Barn when an outside extension cord hanging in front of a spotlight lens heated up...

Samantha Tentinger takes top dairy prize (07/25/08)
The name was a familiar one as the championship awards went out Thursday at the Plymouth County Fair's 4-H dairy show. Samantha Tentinger, Remsen, a Union Livewires 4-H member, not only exhibited the grand champion dairy heifer but also walked out of the ring as the champion junior dairy showman. Her grand champion heifer also took the purple ribbon in the Jersey division. Samantha, also had the reserve champion heifer in the show, winner of the heifer competition in the Ayshire judging...

Loutsch's influence proves hare-raising (07/25/08)
Rabbits are notorious for multiplying. So perhaps it should be no surprise that the two white rabbits Ronald Loutsch was given as a 10-year-old started a snowball effect -- he started the Plymouth County Fair rabbit show which now boasts nearly 125 rabbits...

2008 Plymouth County Fair Schedule (07/25/08)
Saturday, July 26 (Nuebel Chevrolet and Le Mars Ford Mercury Day) 8:30 a.m. 4-H & FFA Swine Show -- Covered Arena 9 a.m. Open Draft Horse & Mule Show -- Horse Arena 9 a.m. 4-H Exhibit Building Open 9 a.m. 4-H & FFA Poultry Show - North of Poultry Building Followed by Clover Buddies Poultry Show...

Round Barn quilt will be on fair auction block Sunday (07/25/08)
A quilted tribute to the Plymouth County Fair's Round Barn will go to the highest bidder Sunday afternoon at the annual Fair Auction held in Pioneer Village. Geri Dreckman of Le Mars designed and constructed a landscape quilt featuring the Round Barn with pigs, a goat, a rooster and hens and a horse with a champion ribbon looking out a barn door, plus a red tractor, flowers, hay bales and a wooden fence...

Quality sheep make judge's job difficult (07/25/08)
Mark Henry had his work cut out for him as judge of this year's sheep show at the Plymouth County Fair. "It's more of a challenge to pick a winner when there are so much quality animals here," the Nevada man said Thursday. "It's a darn tough decision."...

Out of the ring: Behind the Scenes of Impact Pro Wrestling (07/24/08)
What do you do after your "nine to five" job is over? Let's say instead of just heading home, you traded your work boots or suit and tie in for some spandex or a mask. For the members of Impact Pro Wrestling, this scenario is reality. Wednesday evening before their electrifying show at the Plymouth County Fair, I was given a taste of what it takes to be wrestler on the lower professional circuit...

Senior Services Directory aims to aid senior citizens (07/24/08)
After several years of planning and hours of work, the dream of a comprehensive guide for services available for senior citizens in Plymouth County has become a reality. The Plymouth County Fair marks the launching of the long awaited Plymouth County Senior Service Directory. Free copies may be picked up during the fair at the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary Booth in the Commercial Building...

2008 Plymouth County Fair Thursday-Friday schedule (07/23/08)
Thursday, July 24 (American Bank Day) 7 - 10:30 a.m. Open Class Horticulture & Foods Entries check-in Round Barn, Lower Level Only 7 a.m. 4-H & FFA Horse Check-in -- Horse Arena 8 a.m. 4-H & FFA Horse Show -- Horse Arena 8:30 a.m. 4-H & FFA Sheep Show -- Covered Arena...

2008 fair truck recognizes Belgian owners and beef show (07/23/08)
The ninth annual edition of the Plymouth County Fair collectible truck recognizes the beef show, a longtime tradition, and Dr. John and Barbara Conley and their team of Belgian draft horses. The series of trucks is designed to recognize activities and scenes that make up the Plymouth County Fair...

Local Pork Producers will donate to flooded hog farmers (07/23/08)
A group of northwest Iowa pork producers are coming to the aid of southeast Iowa pork producers who were hit hard by the June floods. The Plymouth County Pork Producers Association will once again operate its Grandstand Pork food stand during the Plymouth County Fair. The producers have decided to donate the entire day's proceeds from the stand on Friday, July 25, to help their flooded brethren in southeast Iowa...

Ahlers anticipate upcoming Plymouth County Fair (07/22/08)
As the prize hopeful pumpkin bread bakes in the oven and the sheep are led around the farm one last time, John and Debra Ahlers' four children Jill, Rebecca, Kristen, and Daniel, are busy putting the finishing touches on livestock entries and 4-H exhibits for the upcoming Plymouth County Fair...

Livestock numbers steady in fair entries (07/21/08)
There will be a lot of hooves, paws and bird feet on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds for the 2008 fair which opens Wednesday. "Our numbers are steady and a couple of areas are up," said Carol Schneider, ISU Extension Education Director and fair board member...

2008 Plymouth County Fair Schedule (07/21/08)
Monday, July 21 9 a.m. Fairground Clean-up 9 a.m. to Noon 4-H & FFA Reduced Price Passes Sold -- Fair Office 1 p.m. Livestock Stall Assignments Will Be Posted in Barns 2 to 6 p.m. 4-H & FFA Reduced Price Passes Sold -- Fair Office 2 to 6 p.m. 4-H Home Economics, Science & Arts Entered -- 4-H Bldg...

New first aid booth turns the page of history (07/21/08)
First aid at the Plymouth County Fair got a whole new look this year. The aging first aid booth was replaced by a new building just in time for the fair this year. "Last year there were concerns about the booth -- it was aging," said Tim Paul, chief engineer at Floyd Valley Hospital...

Plymouth County Fair is 'The Best Five Days of Summer' (07/21/08)
The 2008 Plymouth County Fair, billed this year as "The Best 5 Days of Summer" opens Wednesday with a full slate of activities and shows than runs through Sunday evening. "You hear all summer long about the price of gas going up," said Terry Reuter, fair board president. "We hope people will plan the Plymouth County Fair as their main destination this summer."...

15 young ladies seek fair queen crown (07/18/08)
Judging is complete and now it's just the wait to see who will be the 2008 Plymouth County Fair Queen. Judging for the 15 young ladies vying for the crown was held July 15 at the Primebank meeting room. The queen will be crowned during a 7 p.m. program in the grandstand arena on Wednesday, July 23, the first day of the Plymouth County Fair...

Advance fair car passes on sale Saturday (07/17/08)
Advance sales of Plymouth County Fair car passes will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Price of the pass is $25. A car pass will admit a car and occupants, up to a maximum of four adults. Additional persons pay the one day admission of $6...

Eight seek fair king title for 2008 (07/17/08)
The 2008 Plymouth County Fair King will be crowned on the first evening of the Plymouth County Fair in a ceremony in the grandstand area. Eight young men are vying for the title of king. The candidates, their parents and sponsoring club are: David Becker of Le Mars, son of Doug and Peg Becker, Lincoln Toppers 4-H Club...

Farrer says fair is five best days of summer (07/16/08)
When you think of livestock at the Plymouth County Fair, rabbits and poultry may not be the steer or swine you were imagining. Thirteen-year-old Grady Farrer would disagree. The owner of rabbits, chickens and pheasants, Farrer believes that poultry and rabbits are where the real livestock shows occur...

It's 'fair or bust' for the Ludwig family (07/14/08)
(Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories about families preparing for the upcoming Plymouth County Fair) In less than two weeks the Ludwig's family van will journey to the Plymouth County fairgrounds filled with 4-H baked goods, dogs, a homemade hurdle and coffee table, plus the five Ludwig children and a kitten, if there's room...

Smoking in most public places will be extinguished Tuesday (06/30/08)
No Smoking signs started going up last week in preparation for the Iowa Smokefree Air Act which goes into effect Tuesday. Lally's East Side Restaurant, in Le Mars, sported homemade signs Friday telling customers the establishment, which previously allowed smoking, will be smoke free July 1...

Paint in their blood: Gray's show features artistic family ties (06/10/08)
Most people bring a casserole or a dessert to a family reunion. Harry Gray and his family bring pieces of art. At least that's the case with "Kindred Spirits," the gallery show debuting at Le Mars' Arts Center this week. It all stems back to a mid-1800s painter named Asher B. Durand...

LCS hosts State Large Group Music Festival Friday (05/01/08)
Le Mars Community Schools will host the State Large Group Music Festival this Friday, May 2. The contest features both instrumental and vocal groups from Le Mars, Storm Lake, Bishop Heelan Catholic, Spencer and Sergeant Bluff-Luton. The instrumental center will be located in the Middle School Auditorium and vocal center will be in Carey Gymnasium...

High-tech eye image machine way of keeping 4-H'ers honest (04/29/08)
A new retinal image machine that takes a picture of an animal's eye made identifying lambs easier as 4-H'ers prepared for this year's Plymouth County Fair. On Saturday about 46 4-H exhibitors brought their lambs to the fairgrounds to be identified, weighed and tagged...