150
th Nicollet County Fair
Aug. 11-15, 2021
Traverse des Sioux’s Fred and Joy Struck named Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year By PHILIP WEYHE philip.weyhe@apgsomn.com Fred and Joy Struck are not your typical farmers. While the Struck family hasn’t operated a traditional corn and soybean Midwest agricultural operation for decades, its Traverse Des Sioux Garden Center in St. Peter is a farm in its own. And it’s a good one, as Fred and Joy were recently named the Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year. “We’re quite surprised and honored,” Fred said. “I think, normally, they’d pick a family who are regular crop farmers and livestock farmers, so it’s nice to see it appreciated that horticulture is a major part of agriculture and farming. It
TRAVERSE DES SIOUX GARDEN CENTER Address: 1702 Hwy. 169, St Peter, MN 56082 Hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Phone: 507-931-6683 Website: tdsgardencenter.com
was nice to see that they expanded the horizons and included us in this honor.” The business is a horticultural grower and retailer; residences and businesses all over the area boast plants and flowers in their yards and gardens that were originally grown at Traverse. The family produces most of their annuals, hanging baskets and vegetable plants for the garden center in modern glass greenhouses.
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The Strucks’ landscape division is also rapidly expanding with over 20 employees, led by Fred and Joy’s son Keith Struck. Another son, Karl Struck, is head of the retail operating, taking care of merchandise, buying pottery and tropical plants. The third son, Oren, is not part of the family operation, having his own busy career, but he is always supportive and willing to
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Joy and Fred Struck have owned and operated Traverse des Sioux Garden Center in St. Peter for 41 years. The two, recently named Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year, still love to come to work. (Philip Weyhe/southernminn.com)
Nicollet Country Fair Grandstand Events Schedule August 11-15, 2021
Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 West Union, St. Peter, MN WEDNESDAY – AUGUST 11
Harness Races
1:00 p.m. Event Start 11:00 a.m. Ticket Sales Start 12:00 p.m. All Event Gate Opens 12:30 p.m. General Gate Opens-Main Gate $5 Admission (Ages 13 and Up) tax incl. FREE (Ages 12 and Under)
THURSDAY – AUGUST 12
SATURDAY – AUGUST 14
6:30 p.m. Event Start 3:00 p.m. Ticket Sales Start 5:00 p.m. All Event Gate Opens 5:30 p.m. General Gate Opens-Main Gate $10 Admission (Ages 13 and Up) tax incl. $ 5 Admission (Ages 6-12) FREE (Ages 5 and Under)
6:30 p.m. Event Start 6:00 p.m. Kids Power Wheel Demo 12:00 p.m. Ticket Sales Start 4:30 p.m. All Event Gate Opens 5:00 p.m. General Gate Opens-Main Gate $12 Admission (Ages 13 and Up) tax incl. $ 5 Admission (Ages 6-12) FREE (Ages 5 and Under)
Truck and Tractor Pull
FRIDAY – AUGUST 13
Demolition Derby
All Event Passes get you into events 30 minutes before main gate opens and at a discount. See website for details. Buy in advance at St. Peter Chamber, Arrow Ace Hardware, Kwik Trip, Family Fresh, and Schmidt’s Meat Market, as well as the fair board office under grandstand Aug. 11-15.
7:00 p.m. Event Start 6:30 p.m. Kids Power Wheel Demo 12:00 p.m. Ticket Sales Start 5:00 p.m. All Event Gate Opens 5:30 p.m. General Gate Opens-Main Gate $12 Admission (Ages 13 and Up) tax incl. $ 5 Admission (Ages 6-12) FREE (Ages 5 and Under)
THANK YOU YOU TO TO OUR OUR CORPORATE THANK CORPORATE SPONSORS: SPONSORS: LJPWaste WasteSolutions, Solutions,Pioneer Pioneer Bank, Bank, Thrivent Financial LJP Financial(Patti (PattiKelly Kellyand andChanelle ChanelleBraekkan), Braekkan), Traverse Elevator, United Farmer’s Cooperative, Triple E Farms, Keeley Farm Drainage and Traverse Elevator, United Farmer’s Cooperative, Farms, Keeley Farm Drainage and Landscaping Supplies, of Mankato | All America Landscaping Supplies, Arnold’sArnold’s of Mankato | All America PressurePressure Washers,Washers, Red Men Club, Red Men Club, River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic, Davis Family Dairies, KNUJ, Do It Best-St. Peter River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic, Davis Family Dairies, KNUJ, Do It Best-St. Peter Lumber Company, Lumber Company, BLK Electric | Big Gain, AmericInn, Compart Family Farms, MN Valley BLK Electric | Big Gain, AmericInn | McDonalds, First National Bank MN, Grommersch Seeds, Federal Credit Union, Flame Bar | McDonalds, First National Bank MN, Grommersch Seeds, Hesse Insurance Agency, Nick’s Car Care/Rittenhouse Sports, St. Peter Well Drilling, Tow Hesse Insurance Agency, Nick’s Car Care/Rittenhouse Sports, St. Peter Well Drilling, Distributing, andWakefield WakefieldPork Porkand 4 Seasons Truck Wash Tow Distributing, Locher Bros., Culligan,
Demolition Derby
SUNDAY – AUGUST 15
Auto Races
12:00 p.m. Event Start with Kids Power Wheel lap first 10:00 a.m. Ticket Sales Start 11:00 a.m. All Event Gate Opens 11:30 a.m. General Gate Opens-Main Gate $5 Admission (Ages 13 and Up) tax incl. FREE (Ages 12 and Under) Premium books are available at St. Peter Chamber of Commerce, library kiosk, County Courthouse in St. Peter plus gas stations in Nicollet, Courtland and Lafayette plus online.
Get all the fair information on our website:
www.nicolletcountyfair.com
Like us on Facebook – search Nicolet County Fair
Come join the fun! There is something for everyone at the Nicollet County Fair. We hope to see you there.