Community Af-fair PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
The Bureau County Fair hosts a variety of events year-round.
The Bureau County Fairgrounds is a community gathering spot all year By Katlyn Sanden For 166 years, people have flocked to the Bureau County Fairgrounds for five-star entertainment every August, with the exception of the Civil War in 1862 and the Covid pandemic in 2020. Whether you’re into livestock, music, tractor pulls, demo derbies, carnival rides and games, food, or home economic projects, there’s something for everyone at the Bureau County Fair. Those successful shows don’t happen without the support and volunteer efforts of the community. “The fair is made up of a lot of volunteers,” said Bureau County Agricultural Board President Francis Morse. “The people came out to support us. Things looked a little light, but overall things looked pretty good.” This year’s fair kicked off on Aug. 25th by unveiling the never-seen-before Legacy Brick Wall. The Legacy Brick Wall was organized by the Bureau County Fair Foundation to encour-
PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
age the use of the fairgrounds. “We have a lot of people on it that were part of the fair years ago,” Morse said. “Volunteers were recognized. We’re going to continue that into the future. There’s a lot of history on that wall. That’s a positive.” The goal of the Legacy Brick Wall is to honor those that have impacted the fair in whatever ways they uniquely could. Fair-goers are encouraged to buy a legacy brick for anyone whom they’d like to honor. Past board presidents, radio hosts, fair queens, and numerous volunteers are just a few who are already displayed. Funds from the bricks go back to the fair to help ensure the fair goes on for generations to come. The current wall stands beside the fair office, but the board hopes to grow it so much that pillars will be added. The rest of this year’s fair was filled with all the favorites – concerts, demo derbies, tractor pulls, livestock shows, and so much more. “Overall, I was pleased,” said Morse of the 2021 fair. “The community and the volunteers
The barns at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton are used for many different attractions.
6 – Fall 2021
