County fair opens 133rd run

Wisconsin 4-H is not alone in celebrating a milestone at this year’s Shawano County Fair, which opened Wednesday evening at the fairgrounds in Shawano.

A couple of local officials also are marking fair anniversaries.

Shawano County Supervisor Bob Krause told people attending the opening ceremonies that he showed his first animal at the fair 50 years ago this week.

“This year is very exciting,” Krause said.

While Krause was showing his first animal, Shawano Alderman Woody Davis was attending the fair for the first time.

“My wife and I moved to Shawano 50 years ago, and we have been at the fair every year but one, and we enjoy every activity,” Davis said.

Fairgoers are invited to join the 4-H centennial celebration Thursday with a program at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

The program will include past members sharing their experiences, a trivia contest, singing and T-shirt giveaways.

“After all these years, it is really awesome and still going strong,” Krause said. “I would like to congratulate the 4-H for their celebration.”

Wednesday’s opening ceremonies included a welcome from Shawano County Fairest of the Fair Ashley Bergsbaken, who encouraged everyone to visit the fair throughout its six-day run.

“I hope you guys have a good time and come back for a few extra days,” Bergsbaken said.

Dale Hodkiewicz, Shawano County Agricultural Society president, said this year’s fair drew nearly 12,000 exhibits.

After the ceremonies, many fairgoers headed to the grandstand for the feature event: the tractor pull, which featured both antique and modern tractors.

After opening at 5:30 p.m., Wolf River Harmony ran out of cream puffs by 8:30 p.m. The first day’s final count was 174.

The group ran out of cream for the pastry sooner than expected, but will back in business Thursday.

Wolf River Harmony sold 3,627 cream puffs during the 2013 Shawano County Fair, up from 3,199 set in 2012.