The Sherburne County Fair was blessed with perfect weather for at least three of the four days of its run last week. Starting with Day Care Day Thursday and ending with senior day Sunday, attendance was up over last year.
Fifty bikes were given away over the course of the fair. There were many contests and many winner.
Among the many events was the talent show. Kellie Lawson, Fanaka Ndege and Gianna Arthur took first place. Big Lake dancer Morgan Bianchi and her friend Taylor Byars of Elk River took second place, dancing to Michael Jackson’s Beat It.
Other award winners were Joey Booker, 20, of Mankato, who played guitar and sang an Ed Sheeran song, and Michael Sherwood, 18, of Big Lake, who played a Pink Floyd classic rock tune on a guitar he made himself when he was 14.
Former Elk track-and-field standout Ndege, 19, of Elk River, won the Teen Division with a song-and-dance act.
Open Division winner was Lawson, 17, of Cannon Falls, singing Don’t Put Dirt on Me Yet. Gianna Arthur, 11, of Watertown, sang Something’s Got a Hold on Me to become the junior winner.
Demo Derby
Jerry Miller of Zimmerman won Sunday’s demolition derby in his 1990 Ford in the full-size class. This class had the biggest vehicles and 13 entrants.
Kami Barthel of Annandale was second in a 1991 Caprice. Eric Hultberg of Monticello third in a 1966 Plymouth Fury, and Devin Olson of Otsego fourth in a 1985 Crown Victoria.
Guimont won the Mighty Mini’s in a 2001 Dodge, with Randi Guimont of Elk River second in a 2000 Dodge out of six contestants. third was Drew Karels of Waverly and Ryan Zachman of Elk River was fouth.
Andy Hanson of Clearwater picked up another first place, this time in the Chain division, driving a 1978 Impala.
Al West of Princeton was second in a 1998 Ford. Placing third was Anthony Sharp in a 1989 Caprice, with Miller fourth in the same 1990 Ford. There were five entrants.
Keith Nemei of Princeton won the trucks division in a 1969 International. Drew Karels of Waverly was second in a 1965 Ford and Scott Svingen of Benson was third in a 1968 Dodge. There were only four entries.
Winner of the compacts division among 10 entries was Zach Bidwell of Maple Lake in a 1996 Chevy. Jerrid Fisher of Clearwater was second in a 1979 Pacer. Jon Schultz of St. Cloud took third in a 1995 Grand Prix, and Brenden Bruss of St. Stephen was fourth in a 1991 Chevrolet.
4-H
4-Hers were also excited to get their ribbons for projects worked on over the year. Projects included anything from animal husbandry to fashion to aerospace.
Ally Kangas of Becker displayed her llama, Pedro, and two alpacas, Izzy the mom and Ian, her son. Ally has had them just over a year. The exotic pets dine on hay and grass.
There was also a petting zoo which included display animals. Ring-tailed lemurs, a capbara, a wallaby and miniature ponies were all on display.
In the commercial building, there was plenty to see and do as politicians vied for votes amidst sellers of jewelry, make-up and other items. Tom Dziura of Big Lake was there, volunteering with the Gideons, who give away Bibles.
Mike Brubaker of the Sherburne County Historical Center was there for most of the time.
“It has been a good day,” he said.
