There aren’t many traditions in Iowa County that can say they’ve been bringing people together for 170 years. The Iowa County Fair is one of them.
Since 1856, our fair has been a place where generations of families have gathered to celebrate agriculture, support our youth, reconnect with neighbors, and create memories that last a lifetime. This year, we’re honored to celebrate that incredible milestone with our theme, “We’ve Got a Good Thing Growin’.”
If there was ever a year to come back to the Iowa County Fair, this is it.
Whether you’ve attended every year, haven’t visited in decades, or you’re planning your very first trip to the fairgrounds, we invite you to celebrate this historic anniversary with us September 3-7 in Mineral Point.
Our celebration officially begins on Thursday, September 3, at 1:00 p.m. with a 170th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the front gates. I hope you’ll join us as we officially kick off this milestone year and recognize the generations of volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, businesses, and families who have helped shape the Iowa County Fair into what it is today.
One of the projects I’m most excited about this year is our 170th Anniversary Time Capsule. We’re creating it to preserve a small piece of Iowa County Fair history for future generations.
If you have a meaningful fair photograph, ribbon, premium book, newspaper clipping, keepsake, or another item that helps tell the story of the Iowa County Fair, I’d love to visit with you. We’ll be carefully selecting items for inclusion, so if you’d like something to be considered, please contact me at 608-574- 8858. Together, we can preserve the memories and traditions that have made the Iowa County Fair such an important part of our community.
Of course, there’s plenty to experience throughout fair week.
Our grandstand entertainment features something for everyone, beginning Thursday night with Bull Riders and Barrel Racing. Friday brings our NEW Lumberjack Show and Log Rolling, followed by live music from local favorite Daniel Nordstrom and his band in the Entertainment Garden. After the football game, everyone is invited back for our 5th Quarter After Party, a fun way to keep the evening going with great music and community.
Saturday is packed with fair favorites, including Meat Paddles in the Entertainment Garden, the Junior Livestock Auction, and the Tri-State Truck and Tractor Pull. Sunday brings the always-popular Demolition Derby, and Monday wraps up the fair with one of our longeststanding traditions: Harness Racing on Labor Day. Harness racing has been part of the Iowa County Fair since the very beginning, and we’re proud to continue that tradition 170 years later.
Beyond the grandstand, you’ll find the Badgerland Midway, antique tractor displays, a mechanical bull, family entertainment, livestock shows, the exhibit building, and more than 20 food vendors serving everything from fresh and deep-fried cheese curds to barbecue, sweet treats, and classic fair favorites.
One of my favorite stops every year is the exhibit building. Every quilt, photograph, loaf of bread, woodworking project, flower arrangement, and handmade creation represents someone’s time, talent, and pride. It’s a wonderful reminder of just how much creativity exists throughout Iowa County.
At the heart of our fair are our young exhibitors. More than 400 youth will proudly showcase projects they’ve worked on throughout the year through 4-H, FFA, and Open Class. They aren’t just competing for ribbons. They’re learning responsibility, leadership, sportsmanship, and life skills that will stay with them long after fair week is over.
Not every child finds their passion on a ball field or a stage. For many young people, the fair is their place to shine. I hope our community will come out to support them by visiting the barns, cheering them on in the show ring, and attending the Junior Livestock Auction.
The Iowa County Fair is also one of the county’s largest annual events, welcoming more than 20,000 visitors each year. Those visitors support local restaurants, retailers, gas stations, lodging, and businesses throughout the county, making the fair an important part of Iowa County’s economy as well as its traditions.
One thing I’m especially proud of is the incredible support we receive from our sponsors. Their generosity allows us to continue growing the fair while keeping it affordable for families. Because of their commitment, we’ve been able to keep our gate admission prices unchanged, and every grandstand show is included with paid admission. We truly have some of the best community partners anywhere, and we’re incredibly grateful for their continued support.
As we celebrate this milestone year, there are still sponsorship opportunities available. If your business has ever considered supporting the Iowa County Fair, I’d love to visit with you about how you can become part of this historic celebration. Please feel free to contact me at 608- 574-8858.
The Iowa County Fair is also powered by volunteers. Countless individuals work behind the scenes throughout the year preparing the grounds, organizing exhibits, maintaining the facilities, recruiting sponsors, and making sure everything is ready when the gates open. Their dedication is one of the reasons this tradition has continued for 170 years.
Every year, more than 20,000 people walk through our gates, but what makes the Iowa County Fair truly special isn’t the attendance. It’s the people. It’s the families who return year after year, the children proudly showing an animal for the first time, the volunteers who give their time, the exhibitors who share their talents, and the friends who reconnect over a meal and a walk through the barns.
That’s what 170 years of the Iowa County Fair is really about.
Whether you’re spending a few hours with us or making a day of it, I encourage you to slow down, visit the barns, grab something delicious to eat, cheer on our exhibitors, and simply enjoy everything the Iowa County Fair has to offer.
I hope you’ll join us September 3- 7 to celebrate our history, support our youth, and help us kick off the next chapter of this incredible tradition.
We’ll see you at the fair!