News

‘New’ Nebraska State Fair gets rave reviews

From the governor to the beef show judge, and from ag leaders to corn dog vendors, nearly everyone had good things to say about the “new” Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island as it began to wind down on Monday.

“The two words I would use to describe it, I’ve heard all week long—awesome and fantastic,” says Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman of the first state fair to be held outside of Lincoln in 140 years. 

AUDIO: Dave Heineman (1 min MP3)

Beef show judge Dan Hoge of Kewanee, Illinois, was also impressed. “I’ve judged for over 40 years and I can honestly say this may be the—if not thee—most positive environment I have every judged in,” says Hoge.

Farmer Delferd Schlake of Blue Springs was working in the busy Nebraska Wheat Board display in the Exhibition Building.  “People have all been excited,” says Schlake. “I would say the crowd we have had through here is more than last year by far. It’s been well attended here.”

AUDIO: Delferd Schlake (1:30 MP3)

Nebraska Farm Bureau president Keith Olsen says it was good to see people from outstate Nebraska attending the fair.  “A lot of people from western and the northern Nebraska part of Nebraska that never made a trip into Lincoln, they came down here to Grand Island,” Olsen says. “First time to the fair for some of them in many years—and they’re really having a great time.”

AUDIO: Keith Olsen (2 min MP3)

The official attendance figure for Grand Island’s first Nebraska State Fair is expected sometime today.