The annual Fennimore Junior Fair is always a special event in town, but the 2025 version is a little extra special as this marks the fair’s 90th year.

The fair, which has the distinction of being the second longest school run fair in the state, starting in 1935, was first held in Memorial Park, before moving to the at the time new high school building in 1952.

This year due to the school construction, the fair will be holding events at St. Peter Lutheran Church.

The 90 years has been consecutively as the fair was still held during the Covid-19 year of 2020, when the fair was held online with separate individual judging.

Fair co-superintendent Cindy Arndt, who herself has been involved with the fair as a student showing, then as a parent, and then a superintendent, stated it is definitely a team effort to put on the fair each year.

“It’s all hands on deck every year,” Arndt stated. “We have about a group of a dozen adults who work really well together.” 

Having been involved with the fair pretty much every year since she began showing as a student, Arndt said how great it is to see the fair become a family affair over the years.

“We have at least seven families that are on their fourth generation with the fair, and at least seven families with three generations,” she stated.

When asked why fairs like this are important, Arndt explained, “It lets kids learn. They learn people and organizational skills, dealing with deadlines, how to be a good competitor, and teamwork with both kids and adults.”

Arndt many times stated how much getting ready and putting on the fair every year couldn’t be done without all those involved, but she also stated how “amazing” the Fennimore community is with supporting the fair year after year.

“The community backs up so strong,” Arndt explained. “They’re the reason Fennimore still has a school fair. We also always have so many businesses that sponsor trophies, ribbons, etc. Fennimore is just an amazing community.”

When Arndt and fellow co-superintendent Amy Maag were informed a year ago that the fair would have to be held elsewhere with the school construction, Arndt stated every place they asked if it could be held there, “welcomed us with open arms.”

The fair this year will once again begin Thursday night with a dog show at the Fennimore Dog Park in Oakwood Park, and shooting sports at Southwest Tech’s Criminal Justice Blue Line Club shooting range.

On Saturday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, the fair will continue with indoor project displays and animal judging starting at 9:45 a.m., as well as the annual tractor and equipment show and judging.

Arndt went on to say that there will be a “historical retrospective” on display to concede with the fair’s 90th year, with many pictures, facts, and historical records from past fairs.