Fair Board looks forward to successful run

After a livestock only fair in 2020, the 2021 Humboldt County Fair is back with a full line-up of entertainment.
It’s been many years since the fair has had a Demolition Derby, but the 2021 Humboldt County Fair (July 20-26) marks the return of a Demolition Derby on Saturday evening, July 24, at 6 p.m.
Fair Board President Jeff Haselhuhn said a demolition derby promoter has added the Humboldt County Fair date as one of their stops.
“That means there will be a lot of cars in the demo derby. It should be a tremendous show. Demo derbies are becoming very popular,” Haselhuhn said.
The Humboldt County Fair Board has purchased a number of concrete barriers to secure the large area that will be used for the demo derby in front of the grandstand.
Outlaws Tractor/Pickup Pull will take place on Friday night, July 23, at 7 p.m.
“It should be a good show. They’ll bring some noise and smoke. The local pickup pull keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Haselhuhn said.
The popular Tough Truck competition will take place on Sunday evening, July 25, at 7 p.m.
The Tractor/Pickup Pull, Demo Derby and Tough Truck are the only grandstand events where admission is charged. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for ages 5-12 with those under five admitted free.
Fair Booster
One way to help support the fair and save on ticket costs is to become a Fair Booster. A Family Pak is $100 with a value of $126 and includes eight events tickets. A Reserve Champion Pak is $250 with a total value of $351 and includes 20 events tickets. A Grand Champion Pak is $500 with a total value of $630 and includes 40 events tickets.
Grandstand sponsorships are available for $1,000.
In keeping with the wishes of the community-minded Fair Board, the vast majority of events at the Fair are offered free of charge. That includes the coronation of Little Miss and Mister, 4-H Style Show and Fair Queen on Wednesday evening, July 21, at 7 p.m. Impact Pro Wrestling returns on Thursday night, July 22, at 7 p.m. in the showring and is also free.
There’s free face painting for kids (sponsored by the Fair Board), free Dream Carriage Rides, and free Critter Close Up Shows.
People can attend any of the livestock shows for free as well.
Helicopter rides
Something new this year will be helicopter rides by Lake Superior Helicopters. They will have two helicopters at the fair Wednesday through Sunday with rides offered from the infield. Prices start at $20 depending on the length of the ride. Rides start at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 2 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
“The Webster County Fair had Lake Superior Helicopters at their fair. They’re a very good operator with safety being number one. They run very efficiently and should be a fun entertainment option for people to fly over the community,” Haselhuhn said.
Next Generation Shows returns with their carnival for the 2021 Humboldt County Fair. Arm band $18 specials are Thursday, July 22, from 5-9 p.m. and on Sunday, July 25, from 1-5 p.m.
The Fair gets underway with 4-H judging on Tuesday, July 20. On Wednesday, July 21, there will be the horse and pony show starting at 9 a.m., an antique tractor display at 5 p.m., and a free watermelon feed from 5-7 p.m. sponsored by the Fair Board and FFA. The Queen coronations and 4-H Fashion Review is in the evening at the grandstand.
Pro Wrestling
Thursday, July 22, includes goat, sheep and poultry shows with Impact Pro Wrestling in the showring in the evening.
Friday starts off with the cattle show and rabbit show with the tractor/pickup pull in the evening.
The swine show kicks off Saturday morning, July 24. There will be tractor games, mud volleyball, horseshoe tossing and a bags tournament in the morning. The horticulture show starts in the afternoon, as well as the pet show. The Demo Derby is at the grandstand in the evening.
On Sunday, July 25, the Cook Off Contest starts at 9 a.m., Cowboy Church at 11 a.m., Bank Iowa Pedal Pull at 1 p.m., Open Class Hog Show at 1 p.m., Talent Show at 2 p.m. and the Tough Truck Challenge in the evening. During the Tough Truck, an auction of chainsaw art created by artist Lynn Anderson will be auctioned off with proceeds benefitting the fair.
The Fair Livestock Auction takes place on Monday morning, July 26, at 8:30 a.m.
New buildings
Work is progressing on two major projects at the fairgrounds. A pair of old hog barns are being replaced by one larger hog barn, and an old horse barn is being replaced with a new structure. The two new side-by-side buildings are located just north of the showring and will be completed before the fair starts.
“The Fair Board wisely locked in the prices early so the price spikes in lumber and steel were avoided,” Haselhuhn said.
Fundraising is underway for the hog barn and horse barn projects. The goal is to raise $75,000 towards each building. Construction budget for each building is $200,000, or a total of $400,000 for this year’s project.
New water lines are being installed as part of a multi-year water line upgrade project at the fairgrounds.
“Some of the water lines were just very deteriorated and in need of being replaced. It’s all part of our infrastructure improvements we’ve done over the last 10 years. All of the high voltage electrical is now underground. There’s a lot of infrastructure in the ground that you can’t see, but it’s all been very much needed,” Haselhuhn said.
More infrastructure improvements are being planned, including a new bathroom and shower facility, which will help with growth of camping at the fair. Another long term goal is replacement of the grandstand, which dates back to 1913 or before.
Supportive of community
The Fair Board continues to be very supportive of the community, providing a free place for election voting, a place to disperse free food each month, and this past spring provided a free place for local health officials to conduct vaccination clinics. The 4th of July fireworks display is shot off from the fairgrounds each year at no charge.
Without the grandstand events last year, the Humboldt County Fair suffered a loss financially.
“But the Fair Board strongly believed it was the right thing to do to have the livestock portion of the fair so our youth could go on to show at the state level. We partnered with Iowa Central Community College to do some livestreaming and that will continue this year,” Haselhuhn said.
With all county fairs in a similar financial situation due to the pandemic, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds made grants available to fair boards to apply for to help offset some of the losses.
“We received enough grant funds to get us back in the black. That grant was crucial and we appreciate Governor Reynolds for helping us,” Haselhuhn said.
Fair is back
“We didn’t get to enjoy all aspects of the fair last year so we are looking forward to this year’s fair and the opportunity to show the public the two new buildings. We have a very good Fair Board, who are very dedicated to the fair and the Humboldt County community,” Haselhuhn said.
Fair Board members include Gary Vinsand, Jason Opheim, Jerod Hatcher, Chad Kampen, Jeff Haselhuhn, Jeff Halverson, Bruce Schipull, Paul Davis, Nick Davis, Tyler Rutz, Kevin Cordray, Michael Lash, Alex Rhead, Roger Carlson, Ross Newton, Nate Nostrom and accounting manager Marva Anderson.
Read more articles about the fair in this week's special section, exclusive to the Humboldt Independent.