Wet weather just a minor problem for fair-goers

IMAGES FROM THE 2021 FLOYD COUNTY FAIR

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Charles City FFA advisor Bret Spurgin said that he’s come to expect a little rain at the county fair.

“The old joke is always, it’s not really the fair until it rains,” Spurgin said. “We’re OK with a little rain, but it’s all the other stuff that we worry about.”

Dark clouds and rain showers early in the day Wednesday caused some events to be rescheduled at the 2021 Floyd County Fair, then some more severe weather moved into the area just before 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.

A severe thunderstorm brought a tornado warning with it. Sirens could be heard from town. Floyd County Emergency Management Coordinator Drew Mitchell serves on the fair board and was at the fairgrounds when the severe weather approached, and Mitchell was able to help as fair-goers were diverted to shelter.

“Everyone did fine, and everyone was safe and OK,” said Amy Staudt, Floyd County Fair Board president. “I’m just happy that it stayed away from us.”

Spurgin said that the tails — funnel clouds from the bank of storm clouds — were easily visible.

“You could see the tails from the clouds that were northwest of here,” Spurgin said. “It was pretty nerve-wracking. We were just thinking about all that work that the fair board has done, and that the FFA and so many others have helped out with, but luckily, it went around us here.”

The fair board has been rebuilding for the last two years, after an EF-1 tornado smashed through the fairgrounds on Memorial Day of 2019 and took down several buildings. Last year, the fair was limited by COVID-19 restrictions.

Spurgin said that other than the storms on Wednesday, the fair has gone really well this year so far.

“It’s been a couple years since we could have a normal fair, so it’s exciting,” he said. “Hey — it’s the county fair. It’s fun!”

“We are back up and running full today,” Staudt said Thursday morning. “The weather is nice and there are a lot of people walking around already, so we’re excited. We actually had a pretty productive day on Wednesday, even with the storms rolling in.”

The Floyd County Fair is scheduled to run through Sunday, July 18. Wednesday and Thursday events included the pet and dog show, the horse show, the sheep and goat show and the rabbit show. Beef judging will take place Friday, along with timed horse events and the kid’s pedal pull, among many other things. Things kick off Friday morning with a free pancake breakfast.

Grandstand events this year included Figure 8 races on Thursday evening. Tuff Trucks will be on Friday and the Demolition Derby will be Saturday — with fireworks to end the evening Saturday night.

Jesse Allen’s musical performance scheduled for Thursday night had to be cancelled, as Allen’s band and crew broke down in St. Louis and were not able to get a rental vehicle or transportation in time for the show. Instead, music was played and a beverage garden was set up in the midway during the Figure 8 races.

Musical entertainment Friday night will feature the band County Line Drive. Saturday, musical entertainment will be provided by the 70s and 80s tribute band The Hype, with opening act the local group PV and the Phantoms.

“It’s been perfect, I’ve really enjoyed it so far,” said Doug Sedgwick, at the fair to show some of his cattle. “It’s been a good fair.”

Staudt said she’s heard a lot of praise for the building and improvements to the fairgrounds. A picnic shelter has been erected that sits on the site where the old brick building was, a “Little Hands on the Farm” building now sits where the old storage shed was. That building also includes two new restrooms with showers. To replace the dairy building that was destroyed by the tornado, an addition was built to the cattle/swine building.

“We’ve gotten lots of compliments, and people can’t wait to see this last community center finished,” Staudt said. “That will help our food stands and entertainment next year.”

The new assembly hall, which will be a 104-by-60-foot structure, will stand where the old 4-H food stand was, and will branch out into the courtyard area. That building was intended to be finished in time for the fair this summer, but unfortunately, slow material deliveries due to COVID put the building construction behind schedule.

Staudt said that this year, people are just getting a peek at the outside shell of the new building, which she guessed would be completed within a month after the fair.

Daily entertainment this year, beyond the livestock shows and 4-H and FFA events, includes axe throwing, face painting, a photo booth, bingo and polka bands. There is also a petting zoo and several interactive exhibits for kids of all ages, such as a paintball turkey shoot.

New features include Hillbilly the Rodeo Clown, a sand volleyball court and a bean bag toss area. Daily entertainers include Eric Michaels Magic & Illusions, Rondini’s Magic of the Mind Hypnosis Show and an All-Star Stunt Dogs Show, where the stunt dogs are all rescue dogs.

“The kids are having fun, and everyone is happy that the fair is back,” Spurgin said.

As always, food trucks are set up everywhere. For a schedule of events, or just information on the fair in general, go to the website at floydcountyfair.org. Follow the Floyd County Fair Facebook page for information regarding schedule changes and other updates.