Northern Wisconsin's State Fair celebrates 126 years of tradition
Clip: Season 11 Episode 4 | 2m 24sVideo has Closed Captions
From the Ferris wheel to fair food, Chippewa Falls hosts a beloved summer tradition.
Every summer, Chippewa Falls welcomes visitors to Northern Wisconsin's historic state fair, featuring one of North America's largest midways and classic fair food. Angela hears from Rusty Volk, who explains how the fair was saved by local businessmen during the Depression and continues to thrive today.
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Wisconsin Life is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin
Funding for Wisconsin Life is provided by the Wooden Nickel Fund, Mary and Lowell Peterson, A.C.V. and Mary Elston Family, Obrodovich Family Foundation, Stanley J. Cottrill Fund, Alliant Energy, UW...
Northern Wisconsin's State Fair celebrates 126 years of tradition
Clip: Season 11 Episode 4 | 2m 24sVideo has Closed Captions
Every summer, Chippewa Falls welcomes visitors to Northern Wisconsin's historic state fair, featuring one of North America's largest midways and classic fair food. Angela hears from Rusty Volk, who explains how the fair was saved by local businessmen during the Depression and continues to thrive today.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[shimmery music] - We're at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, checking out the variety of entertainment, exhibits, and animals, highlighting what's best about our state.
[whimsical circus music] - So far, Yellow's got it.
- It all starts with a look back at the rich history of these fairgrounds with Executive Director Rusty Volk.
- Rusty Volk: How you doing?
This is the Northern Wisconsin State Fair and our 126th edition of the fair.
When you go back and calculate, this was the largest fair in the state of Wisconsin at the turn of the century.
The Depression was a very difficult time for everyone.
In 1932, there was no money from any of the counties, so businessmen in the region got together and purchased the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds from the State of Wisconsin.
That's how we became a privately-owned organization, which we are still today.
- Okay, and the legacy remains, so now we're, what, almost 100 years removed.
- Correct, exactly.
- And things are still going strong.
- Rusty: Exactly.
In 2007, the two owners put it up for sale.
They were starting to lose money, so we saved the fairgrounds.
That's where this started.
The fair itself has almost doubled over the last three years, where we're bringing in 120,000 people over fair week, about $12 million worth of economic impact for the community.
As a nonprofit, all funds go back into the facilities, into the operation.
- Angela: It sounds exciting and it's connected to such a rich history so it's great that the fair and the fairgrounds were able to be preserved.
- Exactly.
The tradition is very rich here and it's very vast.
[all cheering] - What might I expect today, and are there certain things that I should not miss?
- Well, what you can't miss is the food.
- Okay.
- Number one, you gotta make sure you get the food 'cause we have a wonderful variety.
And what you can expect: you're gonna see and witness probably the cleanest fairgrounds that you're ever gonna be at.
Our carnival that we have, North American Midway, is the largest mobile carnival operator in the United States.
- With my must-see list, it was time for fun at the fair, enjoying food, games, and a ride to the top of the Ferris wheel, all celebrating what's great about Northern Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Life is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin
Funding for Wisconsin Life is provided by the Wooden Nickel Fund, Mary and Lowell Peterson, A.C.V. and Mary Elston Family, Obrodovich Family Foundation, Stanley J. Cottrill Fund, Alliant Energy, UW...