Shawano County Fair

Fairgrounds operate at deficit for 2023

Published by admin on Thu, 01/25/2024 - 12:30pm

Hot and humid weather for a few days during the 2023 Shawano County Fair affected overall operating revenue, but the fair still turned a profit of about $178,000.

Scott Breitrick, president of the Shawano Area Agricultural Society Inc., which runs the county fairgrounds, presented the society’s annual report to the Shawano County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 24.

“You know it was kind of hot at the fair,” he said. “We lost two days of good fair weather. It didn’t have to be 100 degrees.”

Fair-themed rocks wanted for scavenger hunts

Published by admin on Sat, 11/25/2023 - 8:26am

Who’s thinking ahead to next summer’s Shawano County Fair?

Looking ahead to the 2024 event, planned for Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, fair organizers are already creating some fun, leading up to and during the fair itself.

Area residents are invited to paint a fair-themed rock (one or more). All submissions will be posted online around Aug. 1. The winning painter will collect free passes, fair food and fair clothing.

Leading up to the fair, organizers will send everyone on a scavenger hunt for passes to find these rocks hidden throughout Shawano County.

Daughter defeats mother, father in demolition derby

Published by admin on Sat, 09/09/2023 - 10:10am

Results for the annual Shawano County Fair Demolition Derby, held Labor Day weekend, have been announced.

On Sept. 3, drivers competed in three divisions. The top three finishers in the Gut-n-Go front-wheel drive class were Haylee VanAllen (third), Matt Torphy (second) and Jeff Niemuth (first). Niemuth, the derby veteran from Weyauwega, picked up $500 for the win. Niemuth also took home an extra $250 for the Mad Dog award. This award goes to the driver who is determined to be the top hitter.

Take an up-close look at the county fair

Published by admin on Mon, 09/04/2023 - 7:08pm

Olivia Danley, of Clintonville, entered three sheep into the competition at the 2023 Shawano County Fair and went home with just as many ribbons.

“I got first and second on my lambs, and when I sold, I got $22 a pound,” she said. “The actual market price right now is $1.30-$1.60. We have pretty good sales here.”

Danley is the fifth generation of her family members to compete at the fair.

“I’ve been showing for 13 years, and this is my last year,” the 19-year-old said.

Danley likes to help her grandpa out, and the family breeds their own animals.

New barn source of pride for horse community

Published by admin on Sun, 09/03/2023 - 3:41pm

The Shawano County Fair and Shawano County 4-H formally dedicated the new horse barn on the fairgrounds Sept. 1.

Almost 50 people came out to see a project that has been in the planning stages for years and finally got off the ground in 2023 with fundraising and a county grant.

New buildings and more await fairgoers

Published by admin on Wed, 08/23/2023 - 8:48am

The smells of cows, cotton candy, cream puffs and cheese curds combining in the air can only mean one thing — it’s time for the Shawano County Fair.

Visitors who make the annual pilgrimage to the fairgrounds in Shawano every Labor Day weekend can expect to see more animal entries and more exhibits than in recent years, according to Brad Luepke, the fair’s marketing and promotions director. There will also be a couple of new buildings for folks to go through, he said.

Shawano County Fair schedule of activities

Published by admin on Wed, 08/23/2023 - 8:43am

Commercial building hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday

Wednesday, Aug. 30

5 p.m.: Open Dog Show, Crawford Center

6 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies, Veterans Park

6 p.m.: Midway rides begin

6 p.m.: Cat Junior Show, Huntington 4-H Building

6:30 p.m.: County Truck and Tractor Pulls, grandstand

Thursday, Aug. 31

8:30 a.m.: Swine Show, Junior and Open Swine, Coliseum

4 p.m.: Junior Sheep Show, Coliseum

5 p.m.: Midway rides begin, wristband night

Sunday night best time for county fair

Published by admin on Wed, 08/23/2023 - 8:40am

For most folks, the most wonderful time of the year revolves around a specific holiday. Christmas immediately springs to mind, with Thanksgiving and Halloween also being deemed acceptable answers.

However, for many folks in Shawano County, the most wonderful time of the year is Labor Day. Why that holiday? Because that means the Shawano County Fair is just around the corner, and with that comes the carnival rides, animal exhibits, musical performances and seeing up close and personal why this county is such a haven for agriculture.

County fair making few changes when opening next week

Published by admin on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 11:11am

There will be some changes at the Shawano County Fair in light of the coronavirus pandemic, but officials believe they’ll be subtle enough that the average fair patron shouldn’t notice many of them.

The fair is one of only three in northeast Wisconsin that is still going on, the other two being Brown and Marinette. Brad Luepke, the fair’s marketing coordinator, said about 60% of the people he has communicated with felt it was important that the fair not be delayed or canceled.

Cheese curds will be available at county fair

Published by admin on Fri, 08/21/2020 - 3:29pm

For hundreds of Shawano County fairgoers, the experience isn’t complete without that iconic Wisconsin fair food: fried cheese curds.

Jim Kropp, De Pere, has been making it possible by bringing one of his cheese curd trailers to the Shawano County fair every year since 1982. He’ll be at the fair again this year.

The trailer is easy to find. If the bright yellow and orange trailer isn’t enough of a beacon, just look for the long line of return customers who find their way back every year.