Nicollet Co. Fair doing well after rebuilding

from tornado in 1998

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PETER -- The Nicollet County Fair has been around for 121 years, but it continues to draw spectators, thanks in part to its Demolition Derby schedule.

"It's doing pretty good (in attendance), but it probably wouldn't if we didn't have the Demolition Derby," said Dick Johnson, former president of the Nicollet County Agricultural Society Fair Board.

The demo derby is the big draw on Friday and Saturday nights at the fair. It's $8 a ticket for adults, and three bucks for kids between six and 12 years of age. You had better come early, or you're spend a lot of time standing in line for tickets at the grandstand box office.

The dozen mostly metal buildings give the crowded fairgrounds a look of being very financially sound.

"We've been pretty lucky in having some good donors, and the county gives us money, too," Johnson explained.

Oddly enough, the infamous 1998 tornado that devastated St. Peter and razed 13 buildings from the fairgrounds became an unwitting benefactor as insurance money for the demolished buildings and donations were used to build a $400,000, 180-by-60 foot edifice that is now the crown jewel of the fairgrounds.

The building which is more than half the length of a football field was erected in 1999. In fact, it was built by a New Ulm man, Randy Melzer, Johnson said.

"Oh, yah, when the Good Sam's (camping group) were here, they had a supper on Saturday night. We had it set up for 850 people."

The building was built with year-round, multi-use in mind, but this particular Saturday it was doing fair work, hosting a talent show side-by-side with 4-H exhibits..

"It's a wood, wood-metal building, open (clear-span) inside, insulated with air conditioning. We have the heat in the floor, and there are 85 speakers in the ceiling. You can hear from anywhere in the building," Johnson explained. It even has a catering kitchen for use by caterers for events held in the building.

"It's a good system, I tell you. It cost a lot extra to put that in, but it sure was worth it. People who come here say, 'We sure don't have buildings like this at our fairgrounds.' It's working out pretty good, I tell you."

It's become a community center for all of St. Peter, Johnson said.

"We have all types of events in that building. Weddings, meetings, shows, you name it."

If Johnson sounds more like a parent than a fair board member in talking about "the building," it's because he was still president when the decision was made to build it.

"Yah, I've been on the fair board a long time. I was president for 17 years, and now I'm the janitor and liking it."

But, with a building like that comes responsibilities.

"We want to get the parking lot paved (adjacent to 'the building'). It's pretty big, about 200 feet long, and, I suppose, it's 150 feet wide or something like that. Women just don't seem to want to have their wedding dresses dragging in the gravel," Johnson explained.

Then, there's the fairgrounds road that connects the buildings and the grandstand. That needs to be paved, as well, Johnson said.

"Like I said, we've got some very good donors and through one we have access to some pull-tab money so we'll get it done one way or another."