Volume 20 No. 5 May 1, 2014

Volume 20
DAVID SMITH JR—THE HUMAN
CANNONBALL
Gina Hubley,
promotion and
events coordinator of the Minnesota State
Lottery has announced the Lottery will bring back
David Smith Jr— The Human Cannonball. Smith has been a human cannonball for over 11 years.
He has performed more than 5000
cannon shots around the world. He
is the highest flying Human Cannonball in the world today with his
world record breaking human cannonball shots and his dynamic personality. The second generation of cannonballers,
Smith follows in the
footsteps of his father,
David Smith Sr. His parents both started as
trapeze artists, and
Smith Jr. was truly born
into a show biz lifestyle.
In Dave Smith's world,
though, there is nothing
unusual about being
hurtled so fast toward
the sky that, as he says, y"ou feel the wind on your face before
your brain catches up and tells you you're in midair."His father
was a professional human cannonball before him. Indeed, now
more or less retired at more or less 65, Dave Smith Sr. is still
known on the circuit as The Human Cannonball. Every one of
Dave's six brothers and sisters has been shot out of a cannon at
least once. (The Tampa Tribune)
No. 5
May 1, 2014
HAIRBALL TO RETURN
The grandstand will be rockin’ on
Thursday, August 14th, with Hairball performing live. The event begins with a back up band at 7:30 PM,
Hairball will come on at 8:45 until
11:00 PM. The ticket window will
open at 6:30 PM. No presale of tickets will be available. Tickets are
$15.00 for adults, $10.00 for PreTeen (Age 6-12).
Sponsors for this great event are
Treasure Island Resort and Casino,
Noble RV, Godfather’s Pizza, and
CarTime of Owatonna.
STEELE COUNTY
AMERICAN DAIRY
ASSOCIATION


We have a number of sponsors of
signage in the Swine Show Arena.
Sponsors include Harland's Tire
and Auto, CliftonLarsonAllen LLC,
MJ Hydrostatics, Hy-Vee, Northland Farm Systems, Central Valley Co-op, Nelson Auctioneers,
and AmeriGas Propane.
The Owatonna Knights of Columbus’ Smokin’ in Steele BBQ competition will be held at the fairgrounds on Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday, May May 30th-June 1.
For all the details go to
www.smokininsteele.com

The Rochester Area Rabbit Club
will hold rabbit shows at the
Owatonna Foundation Building on
the east end of the fairgrounds on
Saturday, May 10th.

Our sympathies to the family or
Oran Neck. Oran passed away
April 9th. Oran and Mickey have
been food vendors at our fair for
a number of years
with Mickey’s
Grill. Mickey’s
Grill will be returning this year.


Elementary schools in Steele
County will soon be selecting students who will participate in the
annual Jerry Kent 6th grade
spelling bee to be held Aug 14th
at 2 PM on the KRFO stage. This
event is sponsored by Owatonna
Independent School District 761
Foundation.
May 1 is the deadline for nominations for both the Steele County
Livestock Hall of Fame and the
Equine Hall of Fame. Inductions
for both will take place Aug. 12th
in the afternoon at the fair.
STEELE COUNTY DAIRY
BANQUET was held on Saturday,
April 5th. Kendra Schroeder was
crowned Dairy Princess. Rick and
Cathy Balzer were honored with
the Pull Together Award, Mark and
Deb Kubat received the Milk Pitcher Award. Honors went to Dan and
Vickie Deml with the “Lifetime
Dairy Achievement” award for the
many years of
involvement
on the dairy
farm. Dan
serves as the
President of
the Steele
County Agricultural Society dba
Steele County Free Fair. Vickie is
the office manager and book keeper for the fair. Other awards were
also given including the Kottke
Watch Award to Kendra
Schroeder.
Other
News
from the
ADA—
The
Steele County ADA will be sponsoring “The Milking Cow” this year.
It will be located near the FFA Storybook Farm during the fair.
Breakfast on the Farm will be
held Sat. June 21st 8AM-Noon at
the Aaron and Brooke Schroht
farm, 6770 NW 26th Street. There
will be free bus transportation from
the Fairgrounds starting at 8AM.
Handicap parking only at the farm.
Enjoy Breakfast, petting zoo, horse
and buggy rides, Kiddy Train ride,
Jump house, barn tours, and many
other activities. Cost is only $5.00
per person for the breakfast. This
breakfast is provided by Steele
County American Dairy Association.
GOLDSTAR
NEWS
Goldstar Amusements
is currently working
their southern route before they
start to head north. Their southern route right now includes Louisiana and Texas events.
RIDE OF THE MONTHCOMING TO THE 2014
FAIR
Gravitron
The ride
movement
can be
summed
up in two
words:
centrifugal force - When the automated door closes the fun really begins - riders barely realize
they’re moving (everything they
can see is moving with them).
The ride quickly starts to rotate
reaching its top speed of 24 rpm
in less than 20 seconds. (fast
given its wide diameter). At this
speed the 45 panels that riders
stand against rise upwards leaving people stuck to the wall with
their feet off the ground. Regular
riders will always move into position as the ride gains speed,
sometimes turning sideways or
upside down.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT
THE FAIRGROUNDS
There are a number of events
occurring over the next few
weeks, including:
May 10
Rabbit Show
May 30-June 1
Smokin” In Steele
June 12-14
State Firemen’s Convention
June 18-19
Steele County Safety Camp
June 28
Barn Bash
BARN FUND RECEIVES A SPECIAL GIFT
Steele County farmer Marilyn Pirkl has directed a $2,500 donation to
the Owatonna Foundation’s Steele County Fair Barn Fund. Funded
by America’s Farmers Grow Communities, the donation will help fund
the construction of the new Allan R. Radel Pavilion.
“The Steele County Fair Barn is a good community project because it will serve as a meeting ground for agriculture instruction and
the local 4-H,” said Pirkl.
America’s Farmers Grow Communities works directly with
farmers to support nonprofit organizations like the Owatonna Foundation’s Steele County Fair Barn
Fund, who are doing important
work in their communities. The
program offers farmers the
chance to win $2,500, which is
then donated to the farmer’s nonprofit of choice. The search for
funding to sustain and enhance
programs is a year-round job for
nonprofit organizations across the country. Through America’s Farmers Grow Communities, farmers have been able to support a variety
of groups, such as schools, fire departments, community centers and
youth organizations like 4-H and FFA.
America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto
Fund, is part of the America’s Farmers initiative, which highlights and
celebrates the important contributions of farmers like Doug & Marilyn
Pirkl.
CENTURY FARMS 2014
We have been informed that a total of 7 Century Farms will be recognized this year at the Livestock Hall of Fame Program, Tuesday, August 12th at 2;00 PM. They include:
Don Fisher, Dorothy Jackel, Craig Johnson, Dale
Johnson, Hilding Johnson, Tom Wencl and Robert
Wencl.
Congratulations to all 7 families for this outstanding
tradition. The Century Farms Program is sponsored
by Farm Bureau Financial Services –Jim Gunderson
and Monte Dufault Agents.
BARN BASH 2014
JUNE 28TH
11AM-1AM
Concessionaires
Stage Bands
Tom Thumb Donuts
Led Penny
Godfathers Pizza
Car/Truck/Tractor Show
Dan Stursa Band
Cinni Smiths
11-2
Morning Kings
Temple Cheese Curds &
Corn Dogs
Vogel Pony Rides
Westrum Wild Rice Burgers
Silent Auction 5-7 PM
Live Auction 6:30 PM
Kids Activities
Gold Star Amusements
Kids Rides
Face Painting
Camping Available
BRAT PACK RADIO 9PM—12:30AM

We want to take this opportunity to
thank the sponsors of the signage in
the Livestock Show Arena including
Fame Awards, Broskoff Structures,
NAPA Auto, Northland Farm Systems, AgStar, Ag Power Enterprises,
SunOpta, Harland's Tire and Auto,
Profinium Financial, Am. Breeder
Services, Festal Farms, US Bank,
Steele County 4-H, Blooming Prairie
Veterinary Services, Sue ZwienerNew York Life, Al-Corn, Innovative
Seeds, and MJ Hydrostatics.

The 35th Annual Corky’s Early Bird
Softball Tournament will be held May
2-4. 160 teams will be participating
from ten states. Friday, May 2nd
Hitchville will be performing under the
big top tent at Sparetime Bowling.
(On a personal note—I (Sharon)
worked at Park and Recreation 35
years ago and helped Corky create
the very first flyer for Corky’s Early
Bird Softball Tournament.

We have a new department at the
fair. The fair board at their April
meeting approved the addition of an
Open Class Goats Department. Cary
Larson will be heading up this area.
STEELE COUNTY FREE FAIR INFORMATION
Phone: 507-451-5305
Address: PO Box 650, Owatonna, MN
55060
Email: steelecountyfreefair@ scff.org
Website: www.scff.org
Also Facebook and Twitter
BARN PROGRESS
SAV
ET
DAT HE
E!!
BAR
N
JUN BASH
E 28
TH
www.scff.org
August 12-17, 2014
507-451-5305
THANK A FARMER MAGIC
SHOW
COMING TO THE FAIR!!!!
Do you like Magic and Learning things other
people don’t know? Yes? Then you’ll love
the Thank A Farmer Magic Show. Children of ALL ages are completely engaged while learning the important role agriculture and our farmers play in their daily lives.
Presenter of the Thank A Farmer Magic Show, Joyce Rice, comes from a six generation farm family.
She attended Iowa State University on a full four year scholarship, graduating in Home Economics Education. In the field of entertainment Joyce has performed virtually around the world, as well as being featured on numerous television shows including The Tonight Show.
You will find the Thank A Farmer Magic Show in the 4-H building, as well as appearing on the KRFO
Stage various times throughout the week. The Thank A Farmer show is sponsored by TPS Insurance,
Piepho Roofing Inc., Loken Excavating and Drainage Inc., Michaelson Funeral Home, R & K Electric,
Steele County Corn and Soybean Growers, Thompson Overhead Door Co., Wencl Plumbing, Metal Services of Blooming Prairie, and Central Valley Co-op.
Steele County Corn
and Soybean Growers