From Tribune staff reports

Attendance at this Freeborn County Fair increased from 90,000 to 95,000 people coming through the gates over last year, Fair Director Norman Fredin said.

Fredin attributed the turnout to the entertainment, past history of having a good fair and excellent weather. In the last ten years, attendance has gotten as high as 98,000 and as low as 85,000.

The attendance figures are impressive compared to other fairs statewide. According to a study released in January, in 2002 Freeborn County had the fifth-largest fair in the state, behind Steele, Olmsted, Dakota and Benton counties. Comparisons for this year’s attendance will not be available until 2004.