DAY ONE: St. Michael, Albertville Celebrate with Wright County at Fair

Drive for about 45 minutes from St. Michael through the rolling hills and cornfields of Wright County, and you will arrive in Howard Lake. 

Nestled alongside the body of water with the same name is a fairgrounds that will take you back to the fairs of old, with livestock exhibitions, wood-cutting demonstrations and a carnival midway with all of the old-time games. 

This year's Wright County Fair kicks off today, with plenty of representation from the northeast corner of the county–including St. Michael and Albertville–down in Howard Lake. 

"It's interesting because Wright County is an area, in particular, where 4-H involvement is really growing. We're seeing great participation and entries in lots of categories," said Ward Westphahl, executive director of this year's fair. "That's not something a lot of other counties can say. And it makes competition great." 

The county fair is, of course, the qualifier for the Minnesota State Fair, so ribbon winners have the opportunity to advance to participate in the "Great Minnesota Get-Together." 

Today's schedule:

Wednesday, Aug. 3
8:00 am .........Gen. Ex. Judging
9:00 am .........Livestock Check-In Begins
9 am-8:00 ......4-H Horse Check-In, both Barns
12:00 pm .......General Ed. Building opens
5 pm-Close ....KRWC Night $1 Midway Rides
5:30 pm .........Pie Eating Contest
6-6:30 pm ......4-H Clipping & Grooming for Dairy
6 pm ..............Llama Show
6:30 pm .........Open Class Miniature Horse & Pony Show
7:00 pm .........Opening Ceremonies
7:00 pm .........Combine Demo Derby
7-8:00 pm ......4-H Sheep Weigh-In
7:30 pm .........The Blazers - Entertainment Tent
8:00 pm .........Market Goat Weigh-In
8:00 pm .........ALL 4-H Livestock in Place
After 9 pm ......Cash drawings
9:00 pm .........Livestock Entries Close
10:00 pm .......Buildings Close

Looking ahead: Hairball, the much-celebrated band that will pay tribute to 1980s and 90s arena bands, will take center stage Thursday night with a grandstand performance. Tickets are available, locally, at Neighbors in Albertville.