Fairs And Festivals

Local jazz bands qualify for Iowa Jazz Championships (02/12/10)
Jazz bands at Le Mars Community High School and Gehlen Catholic High School qualified for the Iowa Jazz Championships April 13 in Des Moines. Both placed second in their respective classes at the NW Iowa District Jazz Competition in Sioux City Feb. 3. LCS will compete in Class 3A and Gehlen Catholic in Class 1A...

Wolf to reveal design elements through flower arranging course (02/11/10)
Dennis Wolf has been arranging flowers for over 30 years. As a master level judge for flower arrangements, he used his skills to examine the flower arrangements during the Plymouth County Fair last summer. Wolf's time spent at that fair made him realize there was a need for basic flower arrangement training...

Hotel/motel tax dollars may boost fairgrounds, chalk festival (02/03/10)
Twelve local agencies and organizations and the city are likely to be the beneficiaries of $36,033 in local option Hotel/Motel Sales Tax dollars this year. The Le Mars City Council received the requests for annual allocations of the sales tax revenue from the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board at its Tuesday session...

County budget cutting begins with conservation, sheriff, fair (01/22/10)
The chopping has begun with the Plymouth County Supervisors starting cuts to make the 2011 budget work. Tuesday, the board agreed to trim back dollars from requests made by county conservation, the sheriff, the county fair, the county libraries and the county museums...

Supervisors consider fair, museum requests (01/15/10)
Plymouth County Historical Museum and county fair board officials presented their budget requests for 2010-11 to the board of supervisors Tuesday. Both officials kept their asking amounts the same as those requested for the current 2009-10 fiscal year...

Six selected for 2009 Drake Honor Band (12/04/09)
Six Gehlen Catholic students are among the 200 musicians from Iowa and Nebraska who will perform this Saturday during the 2009 Drake Honor Band Festival in Des Moines. They include seniors, Sarah Jentz and Josh Schreiner; juniors, Christopher Eral and Matt Klein; freshman, Elisabeth Niebuhr; and foreign exchange student, Yerin Seo...

Fair board members elected at society's annual meeting (11/20/09)
Nine seats on the Plymouth County Fair Board were filled during an election at the annual meeting of the Plymouth County 4-H and Agricultural Society Nov. 12 at the Plymouth County Extension Office. Board members whose terms expired and were seeking re-election were Tony Schroeder, Terry Reuter, Brett McNaughton, Wayne Beitelspacher and Rich Benson...

Fitzpatrick's love of music turned into choir director job (11/19/09)
Little did Marlene Fitzpatrick know when she tagged along with her dad as a child to choir rehearsal at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars, she would one day be the choir's director. Sunday, she will be honored on her retirement after 35 years as choir director and liturgist at St. James Church. The open house will be held from 2-4 p.m. in the St. James parish hall...

Gehlen, LCS students selected for Opus Honor Choir Festival (11/09/09)
Students from Le Mars Community Schools and Gehlen Catholic School have been chosen to participate in the 23rd annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Gehlen Catholic eighth grade student Sara Roder will make her fourth appearance in an Opus Honor Choir. She also received the high honor of being chosen as a solo finalist for the song, "Benedictus" in the 7th & 8th Grade Girls Honor Choir...

LCS musicians selected for All-State Festival (11/03/09)
Thirteen Le Mars Community High School musicians have been chosen to be part of the 2009 Iowa All-State Music Festival with another five chosen as alternates. District auditions were held Oct. 24 at Storm Lake. Four students were selected for the All-State band...

Families' chalk drawings color downtown Le Mars (09/21/09)
Moms, dads, children, sisters, brothers, grandparents having fun together -- that's what the Le Mars Chalk Art Festival was all about. Families, like the Murphys, were already hard at work Saturday morning, the first day of the weekend festival. "Grandma had a fun idea for us to come down and draw," Mia Tardive said of her mom. "We do a lot of things together as a family."...

Chalk Art Festival this weekend (09/18/09)
The Le Mars Chalk Art Festival will take to the streets for the first time this weekend. Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and running through Sunday, artists from Le Mars to as far away as Ohio will be chalking up the streets and sidewalks of downtown Le Mars and more...

Le Mars ready for chalk artists this weekend (09/17/09)
Le Mars is gearing up for its first Chalk Art Festival this weekend and conditions seem just right for success. The weather forecast promises sunny weather with only slight chances for rain late Sunday night. Several vendors and restaurants will provide a variety of foods for people to enjoy during the festival...

Scarecrows to take over Akron Park Saturday (09/15/09)
Scarecrows will take center stage at the Eighth Annual Great Akron Scarecrow Festival Saturday at the Akron City Park. The event, hosted by the Friendship & Service Club of Akron, opens at 10 a.m., with judging of the scarecrow contest and runs until around 4:30 p.m...

Art comes out of the woodwork in local show (09/11/09)
Joshua T. Adair fashioned a wooden desk in the 1830s. His great-great grandson John A. Adair restored the piece, which is currently featured in the "Around Town" exhibit at the Le Mars Arts Center. "I think he had that while he was a magistrate," John said. "He used the desk to do his work."...

Fair results booklet inside (09/11/09)
Check out the second section of the Plymouth County Fair results booklet inside the Daily Sentinel today. Photos and results for 4-H Building exhibit winners and awards for other contests are included. The first section of the Plymouth County Fair results booklet was included in the August 31 issue of the Daily Sentinel...

Chalk festival invites all ages to color downtown Le Mars (09/10/09)
Remember sitting in the driveway and making chalk pictures? The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce's First Annual Chalk Art Festival next week is a chance to relive those childhood moments or create new ones. The chalk art festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 in downtown Le Mars...

Maass honored with Farm Bureau Ag Award (09/10/09)
A retired Remsen farmer is the 2009 recipient of the Plymouth County Farm Bureau's Service to Agriculture Award. The award was presented to Kenneth Maass and his wife, Bethene, at the 91st annual meeting of Plymouth County Farm Bureau Tuesday evening at the Le Mars Community Middle School Auditorium...

Bluegrass festival brings thousands (09/08/09)
A week of gorgeous weather and good music brought about 25,000 people to the Plymouth County Fairgrounds last week, according to Bob Everhart. Everhart is one of the coordinators of the National Traditional Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival that was hosted for the second time at the fairgrounds in Le Mars this year...

Yahsu Le Mars -- that's Greek for 'Hello' (09/04/09)
The men leap and shout and whistle. The ladies shyly lift dainty ankles and move in graceful circles. Dressed from head to toe in red, black, white and gold, a group of Greek dancers from Hungary are bringing a new heritage to the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival this week in Le Mars...

Swatzells keep dobro tradition alive (09/03/09)
Each day Bertha Swatzell and Mary Nell Swatzell Eidson open the doors of the Dobrotorium at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival to a steady stream of performers. More than likely, many performances will include a dobro, also known as a slide or acoustical guitar...

Country music veteran earns spot in Hall of Fame (09/03/09)
Razzy Bailey came all the way from Georgia to accept his induction into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday. The induction took place during the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival in Le Mars...

Free soup: Tradition lives on in Tipi Village (09/02/09)
In the 1840s, when people pulled up to a fur trading camp, they'd be sure to find a pot on the fire. "Whoever had been on the trail could always depend on a hot meal," said Catfish Grinstead, stirring a pot in his tent in the Tipi Village at the National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival in Le Mars...

Singer, songwriter's career grows during CIA service (09/01/09)
Francis Hahn has worn many caps in his lifetime from CIA operative to shoe store repair owner to airport manager. His most fulfilling career -- his music. "I've enjoyed song writing more than anything I've ever done," Hahn said. The Mapleton man sang his tunes on the Church of Jesus stage at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival Monday afternoon...

Music festival ready to go back to the roots (08/31/09)
On a park bench, two men pluck strings and tune guitars. On stage, a Johnny Cash tribute artist belts out the man in black's hits. This was the scene at the Olson Cultural Event Center in Le Mars Sunday. Only the two men tuning up were from northwest England. And the Johnny Cash artist was from Slovakia...

Final bids Saturday on chair art (08/07/09)
Final bidding on "Sittin' Pretty" chairs at the Arts Center will be held Saturday. The 46 chairs, painted by local artists for the annual fundraiser for the Le Mars Arts Council, will be handed to the highest bidder at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. The chairs have been on exhibit at the Arts Center and then the Plymouth County Fair through July and early August...

Le Mars to serve as international hub for music (08/06/09)
Skip New York. Le Mars will be an international junction Aug. 31-Sept. 6 when musicians from as far as Greece, New Zealand and the country of Georgia will be taking the stage. This is Le Mars' second year hosting the National Old-Time Country and Bluegrass Festival at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds...

Nicholson touts 4-H as important life experience (08/05/09)
A family reunion brought former Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson back to his hometown and an opportunity to visit the Plymouth County Fair last Friday. "I can't believe how much its grown. It's spectacular," Nicholson said during an interview at the 4-H Food Stand, indicating his last visit to the fair was about 10 years ago...

Brink inducted into fair's Hall of Fame (08/04/09)
The 2009 Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame inductee grew up east of Merrill and has a long history with the Plymouth County Fair. Darwin Brink, now of Bronson, Iowa, received the honor Wednesday prior to the crowning of fair royalty. "Darwin has been walking or riding the Plymouth County fairgrounds for the past 70 years," said fair board president Terry Reuter...

Auction gives $17,210 boost to Plymouth County Fair (08/03/09)
Auctioneer Bruce Brock worked the crowd Sunday afternoon to get fair goers to open their checkbooks at the 2009 Plymouth County Fair Auction. When the final "sold" was called, the auction items netted $17,210 for the fair board coffers. The auction, held in Pioneer Village, featured collectibles, a barn quilt, an appliqu�d and machine quilted quilt, and 16 chainsaw wood carvings by A.J. Lutter...

Plymouth County Fair hits record attendance (08/03/09)
Despite a few rainy nights, the Plymouth County Fair drew a record number of people to the fairgrounds this year. Attendance spiked to 92,500 for the five days, according to Dave Lehner, ticket chairman. The highest attendance before that was in 2005, when the number of people flocking to the fair reached 91,200...

Junck, Udell show top 2009 fair beef (08/03/09)
"Difficult, difficult," Beef Judge Larry Anderson said Friday as he stood in the show ring making his selections in the 4-H/FFA beef competition at the Plymouth County Fair. "I'm seeing beef animals that could compete just about anywhere," Anderson said. "It's apparent these entries have been well cared for and worked with. And as I visit with exhibitors, you also learn they know about their livestock."...

Plymouth County Fair 2009: Holding together a family in motion (07/31/09)
Some people hold family reunions to get together with their brothers, uncles, nieces and grandchildren. The McDermotts hold a carnival. And Grams McDermott is right at the center of it. At the Plymouth County Fair, Grams is in her usual spot -- selling tickets out of the tiny McDermott Family Shows booth surrounded by the Rocket Ship ride, the Scrambler and the cotton candy stand...

Sheep show exhibits down, quality up (07/31/09)
The number of sheep exhibits at the Plymouth County Fair was down this year, but the quality was up. "They haven't given out one red ribbon yet," Sheep Superintendent Jeff Klemme said following the market lamb competition on Thursday. There were 160 sheep entered in this year's sheep show. Klemme said that is about 30 less than last year, but he is optimistic that the numbers will go up again. That's because the number of youngsters who exhibited sheep was up 10, from 32 to 42, this year...

Top Fair dairy entries awarded (07/31/09)
Young dairy exhibitors at Thursday night's Plymouth County Fair dairy show may have felt a bit lonely in the ring, but the lack of entries -- there were four in all -- did little to dim the exhibitors' enthusiasm and dedication to proper showmanship...

Westergard and Schilmoeller reign as fair queen and king (07/30/09)
It may have been raining outside, but the smiles were shining bright in Century Hall as the 2009 Plymouth County Fair royalty court was announced Wednesday. Ben Schilmoeller was crowned king and Caine Westergard was crowned queen of the 2009 fair. Their royalty court includes Princes Ryan Schroeder and Brian Kehm; Mr. Personality Chris Erickson; Miss Congeniality and Princess Stephany TenNapel and Princess Angie Breuer...

Raising bucket calves teaches sisters valuable lessons (07/30/09)
Regan and Reyly Plendl participated in their first bucket calf show Wednesday at the Plymouth County Fair. Combing her calf, Spike, prior to the judging, Regan explained her way of teaching Spike how to be led. "I hooked him up behind the 4-wheeler," Regan said. "I went slow."...

Presbyterian UCC hosts fair worship service (07/30/09)
The chapel bell will ring Sunday morning at the Plymouth County Fair, calling everyone to the 11 a.m. ecumenical church service in the air-conditioned Century Hall. Hosting the service this year is the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars. The congregation members invite everyone to the "come as you are" service which will be a service of praise and thanksgiving...

Small portions, big tastes at fair's cooking school (07/29/09)
Ready to try something new in your kitchen and maybe win a prize? Then come out to the cooking school at the Plymouth County Fair at 7 p.m. Friday presented by Wells' Dairy, Inc. culinologist John Kennedy II. What is a culinologist? "It's part chef, part food science," explained Kennedy, admitting he has "one of the coolest jobs in the world."...

Livestock numbers up slightly at 2009 fair (07/28/09)

Open shows move from Round Barn (07/28/09)
Visitors to the 2009 Plymouth County Fair will find the Round Barn Open Class displays in a new location -- the former 4-H Building. With the 4-H displays moving to the Hall of '84, open class Art Show, Creative Hobbies Show, Antiques and Collectibles, and Horticulture, Food and Preservation Show will move to the former 4-H Building...

Kehms' green project exceeds expectations (07/27/09)
Sometimes -- albeit rarely -- everything that can possibly go right does. Sometimes donations pour in and you get all three grants for which you apply. Such is the case for Le Mars Community senior-to-be Brian Kehm. Kehm and his sister Sarah, who will be a freshman at Iowa State this fall, have been hard at work with their 4-H club since last fall securing donations and grant money to help make the Plymouth County Fair a greener place...

2009 fair truck recognizes fair board and swine show (07/27/09)
The 10th annual edition of the Plymouth County Fair collectible truck recognizes the swine show judging and members of the Plymouth County Fair board. The series of trucks is designed to recognize activities and scenes that make up the Plymouth County Fair...

Flower show gets new home at Plymouth County Fair (07/24/09)
"A Musical Tour Through Iowa" is the theme for the flower show sponsored by the Floyd Valley Federated Garden Club at the 2009 Plymouth County Fair. The flower show ,which for more than 20 years been staged in the "Round Barn" at the Pioneer Village, is moving to a new location...

Second generation 4-H'ers prepare for fair (07/23/09)
The smell of freshly baked sugar cookies fills the Sitzmann home northwest of Kingsley. All sorts of 4-H projects are scattered throughout the rooms of the house in preparation for the Plymouth County Fair. Adam and Abby Sitzmann, ages 13 and 11, have been members of the Kingsley Krowners 4-H Club since they were old enough to join at age 9...

Fair belt buckle honors historic log cab (07/23/09)
The 2009 Plymouth County Fair Belt Buckle salutes the log cabin on the west end of Pioneer Village. The buckles, produced by the Town and Country Toy Club continue a tradition started in 1967, of honoring a builidng, project or group at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds...

Advance fair car passes, wrist bands on sale Saturday (07/23/09)
Those attending the 2009 Plymouth County Fair can eliminate a stop at the fairground gates by purchasing their car pass and wrist bands in advance. The car passes will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds, according to board member Dave Lehner, who serves as ticket sale chairman for the fair...

Plymouth County Fair preview in today's paper (07/22/09)
Ready for carnival rides, barns full of prize-winning animals, grandstand entertainment and more? The Plymouth County Fair is next week, July 29-Aug. 2, and promises to be the "5 Best Days of Summer." In today's edition of the Daily Sentinel, you'll find our Plymouth County Fair section including a schedule of events and interviews with many of the entertainers...

4-H club's barn quilt project to benefit fair (07/21/09)
The popularity of barn quilts in Plymouth County and Iowa has prompted the Grant Clever Clovers 4-H Club to make one as a club project. The club is donating the barn quilt to be auctioned at the annual fair auction Sunday afternoon, Aug. 2, with proceeds going to the Plymouth County Fair Endowment Fund...

College student redesigns fair building for 4-H projects (07/17/09)
4-H is on the move at the Plymouth County Fair. That's right, 4-H exhibits such as food, home improvement, photography and much more, which for years have been displayed in the 4-H Building on the fairgrounds will move to the west, in what has been known as the Hall of '84...

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