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Recent discussions of canceling the Freeborn County Fair are circling. I realize the realities of public health along with entertainment, contracts, etc., are hovering over the heads of county commissioners, the fair board and others, however, the fair is not about the entertainment.

The Freeborn County Fair is known across the state as one of the most impressive livestock county fairs. Year after year, youth bring their animals and nonlivestock projects to the state fair to represent our little county and come home with wins — multiple wins. But this isn’t about winning! It’s about those very youth, and everything they learn along the way. Getting livestock and nonlivestock projects ready for the county fair builds a variety of skills that, I for one, want to encourage and see more of in the youth who will one day be running this city and county.

In the process of getting ready for fair, they build a work ethic, independence, an understanding and value of life, economic skills, accounting and money management skills, among a variety of “intangibles” like confidence, empathy and respect. These are all things I would actually like to see more of in some leaders of our state and local community.

I say all of this knowing that public health needs to be the utmost priority when making this decision. I also know that building these skills in youth must be given more value than the dollars made and lost over entertainment.

I encourage and implore the city and county to look at this as an opportunity to keep people safe, while being creative. How can we limit travel while offering quality entertainment? Could this be a fair where local bands and entertainment are featured and available to watch virtually? Could this be a fair where livestock shows use livestream technology so family members can watch (much like national shows)? Could this be an opportunity to give vendor space to locals who haven’t been able to participate yet?

Could this be a fair where there is lower attendance without the big names coming to town? Probably. But could this be an opportunity for Freeborn County to set an example for the state and invest in local talent? I would hope so. We are investing in our leaders and building life-long skills. The Freeborn County Fair should be open for livestock and nonlivestock participants in 4-H, FFA and open class to show off their hard work and skills. I urge the city and county to seriously consider other ways to host and keep the 2020 Freeborn County Fair, while social distancing.

Maddy Ruble

Albert Lea