Even as venerable an institution as the Crawford County Fair must make some changes at times.
Recently, that has meant taking on a new fair coordinator, Amanda Nagel, and opening a new year-round office in the Gays Mills Mercantile Center.
Nagel recently announced there will be a grand opening for the new office on Friday, March 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Gays Mills Mercantile Center. The program, which starts at 7 p.m., will include the crowing of the new Fairest of the Fair.
It will be emceed by Laurie Wild, the morning DJ on WPRE.
Refreshments served
“There will be plenty of refreshments and some door prizes,” Nagel said. “We’re hoping lots of people can make it out to see our new office and visit with each other, as well as fair and other county officials.
Why is a new office for the county fair located in the Gays Mills Mercantile Center?
“We wanted to be as close to the fairgrounds as possible and there are no heated buildings on the fairgrounds itself,” Nagel explained.
In addition to supervising the fair itself, the fair committee would like to see the fairgrounds used more for other events.
The county’s fair committee wants Nagel to concentrate some of her time on marketing the fairgrounds for other purposes.
The new office will be open every Wednesday from 1:30 to 6 p.m. and at other times by appointment, Nagel noted.
Nagel became the new fair coordinator on January 3, taking over from outgoing fair coordinator Heather Moore. Nagel is not a newcomer to the county fair by any means. Starting with being an exhibitor until the age of 19, she showed swine.
She also showed beef when she was younger. An active 4-H member, Nagel entered arts and canning, as well.
For many years, Nagel served as a 4-H advisor. She also took a lead role in the 150-year celebration of the fair committee a few years back. Last year, she worked in the office at the fair.
Who is Amanda Nagel?
Well, in addition to her roles with 4-H and the county fair, Nagel is a UW-Stout graduate with a major in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Art. She is also a certified Family Life Educator.
Nagel, who grew up in Eastman and attended Prairie du Chien High School, currently works as a parent educator in Prairie du Chien and teaches parenting weekly in LaCrosse.
So, what about this year’s fair?
Well the theme is ‘Sow It, Grow It, Show It.’
Anyone with questions about the fair is invited to call 608-735-4379 or check out the fair’s website at www.crawfordcountywisconsin fair.com
See you at the Crawford County Fair, but first we’ll see you the fair office’s grand opening in the Gays Mills Mercantile Center on Friday, March 22.
