Dodge County Fairgrounds - Beaver Dam, WI

What A Fair!
By Corey Schaefer
Staff Reporter for the Daily Citizen

Participants wait for the start of the Little Britches Showmanship contest to start Sunday afternoon at the Dodge County Fair.

Beautiful weather, good music and hours of entertainment diverged to help draw a record-breaking crowd to the Dodge County Fair this year.

More than 57,400 attendees flocked to the fair grounds before its gates closed Sunday evening, nearly 3,000 better than the attendance record set in 2002, according to Jim Schoenike, Dodge County Fair Association president.

"It was a great fair week with beautiful weather," Schoenike said.

The entertainment lineup this year included Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Ted Nugent and Craig Morgan as well as a number of other acts on several small stages. Schoenike said that in addition to record attendance levels, he is also very pleased with the number of exhibitors that participated in the various competitions.

"There were a lot of entries, except in the vegetable competition, which was lacking because of the spring rains," Schoenike said. Last year it was the fair itself that was drenched by rain. Rain was so heavy on Saturday night and Sunday in 2007 that the fair was forced to close early.

This year, there were a few passing showers Wednesday before skies cleared up for the remainder of the fair. Schoenike added that the event wouldn't be possible without the help and cooperation of fairground neighbors who are always willing to lend a back hoe, or do whatever they can to help.

"Anytime we need something, our neighbors are always there," Schoenike said.

Caleb Roy, 4, from Juneau, walks his calf, Wagon Corn III around the show ring during the Little Britches Showmanship at the Dodge County Fair Sunday afternoon.

Directions to Dodge Co. Fair Entrance
Fabisch Rd At State Road 33
Beaver Dam, WI 53916