About 300 wore shirts in support

The people who initiated a smoke-free day at the Freeborn County Fair said it went well. Many people were spotted on Saturday wearing T-shirts in support.

Alice Englin of Freeborn County Partners in Prevention said the thinking behind it was that Saturday is Kids Day at the fair, so they approached Fair Manager Norm Fredin about making that day smoke-free. He took it to the fair board, and it approved.

The day was renamed Smoke-Free Kids Day. Cigarette smokers were relegated to two designated smoking areas.

Fredin said some people complained but others complimented the fair for taking the action. He said some fairs have become smoke-free, with only designated areas for smoking. Others, such as the Minnesota State Fair, continue to allow smoking in general outdoor areas.

Englin was grateful the Freeborn County Fair gave it a shot.

“We had many people come up to the Freeborn County Partners In Prevention booth requesting a T-shirt to wear in support,” she said. “Ticket takers, vendors, Midway carnival staff, the cleanup crew and a lot of kids wore their T-shirt in support.”

She estimated about 300 people were wearing the shirts.