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Wright County Fair board reviews 2024 season, outlines 2025 dates and fundraising progress
Summary
Fair board representatives told Wright County supervisors the 2024 fair was resilient after severe flooding, reported participation gains in several exhibitor categories, raised about $124,000 through sponsorships and more than $14,000 via the extended premium program, and announced the 2025 theme and dates.
Representatives of the Wright County Fair Board gave the Board of Supervisors an annual update, describing severe flooding that struck the fairgrounds two days before the event but noting the fair proceeded after extensive volunteer and board work. The fair board reported participant increases in multiple categories and outlined fundraising and capital improvements.
The fair board said heavy rain and flooding damaged portions of the grounds shortly before the 2024 event, requiring cleanup, reconfiguration of vendor and entertainment locations, and one canceled grandstand event (a rodeo). Volunteers, neighboring fairs and civic partners provided equipment and manpower; organizers delayed camper arrival and some livestock arrivals by one day but managed to hold most scheduled events.
The fair board reported 148 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors and 83 nonlivestock exhibitors, and said total livestock and nonlivestock exhibits numbered just over 910. The board said its sponsorship program raised about $124,000 in 2024, bringing the 21-year cumulative total for that program to more than $1.2 million. The fair's extended premium program returned just over $14,000 to exhibitors on a prorated basis. The board also reported the fair foundation balance at more than $36,000 and noted improvements on the grounds including 12 newly planted trees, a new cement pad for the pedal-tractor track, steel installed on a commercial building, additional electrical work and new poultry cages ordered.
Fair board representatives said they worked with a marketing partner (Emerge Marketing) to standardize branding and social-media outreach and that they have tentatively contracted with Scott Amusements through 2029. The board announced the 2025 fair theme "Homegrown" and confirmed the 2025 fair dates as July 8—13, 2025.
Ending: Board members thanked the fair representatives for their work and noted the county's continued funding considerations; supervisors acknowledged the fair's economic and community value and discussed county budget pressures affecting future support.
