Vinland fair favors tradition

Vinland ? In its 95 years, not much has changed at the Vinland Community Fair.

Allen Osborn, Vinland, and Miles Cleland, Vinland, pitch in and clean a barn before the Vinland Community Fair starts today. Nonlivestock judging, a farm skills contest and music by the Lonesome Hobos Band mark today's events at the fair.

If it works, asked Mary Gensler, fair board treasurer, why change it?

Food, fun scheduled for this weekend’s eventsJ-W Staff ReportsHere’s the schedule for the 95th Vinland Community Fair. All events take place at the Vinland Fairgrounds, just north of Vinland Elementary School.Today2 p.m.- 7 p.m.: 4-H nonlivestock judging2 p.m.: Old-time farm skills contests6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.: Talent show7 p.m.: Rabbit and poultry shows in the livestock barn8 p.m.: Lonesome Hobos BandFriday9 a.m.: Stock bicycle racesNoon: Foot races, sack races and tug-of-war7 p.m.: Tractor pull7:30 p.m.: Shyster Mountain Gang BandSaturday9 a.m.: Horseshoe-pitching contest11 a.m.: Beef, dairy, sheep, swine and goat livestock display begins11 a.m.: Box turtle race and pet parade1 p.m.: Pedal tractor pull5 p.m. Lawn and garden tractor driving-skills competition7 p.m.: Judging and serving of homemade ice cream7:30 p.m.: Calhoun Country BandHomemade food will be served all three days of the fair, starting at 5 p.m.

The fair, which begins today and runs through Saturday at the Vinland Fairgrounds just east of Vinland on County Road 460, will remain generally the same, Gensler said. “We still have the bike races and the foot races we had in the beginning. Needless to say, that’s changed a whole bunch because the people who raced in them then now have grandkids that race.”

She said about 2,000 people were expected to attend before the fair ends Saturday.

“The main reason people still come is because it’s more like a big family picnic,” Gensler said. “You come every year to see your neighbors you don’t see otherwise.”

Gensler said residents of the small Douglas County community just north of Baldwin prided themselves on preserving tradition.

“It’s just the same routine without having to have the commercial aspect to it,” she said.

And for her, the tradition is why the fair remains special year after year. Gensler has attended the fair since 1948.

“Every other fair you go to, there’s always banners here and there,” she said. “Here, we just don’t do that. All of the things are sold on the grounds are done in the community.”

And that includes the popular homemade meals and ice cream, said Julie Craig, fair board president.

The Vinland Parent-Teacher Organization will serve spaghetti today, and the fair board will serve chicken and noodles Friday and beef brisket Saturday. Meals cost $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children. Meals are served beginning at 5 p.m.

Today kicks off with the judging of nonlivestock exhibits from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and old-time farm skills contests also begin at 2 p.m. today. On Friday and Saturday, activities begin at 9 a.m. Fair activities are free.

Though small changes have been made throughout the years at the fair, maintaining small-town traditions is most important to the fair board, Craig said.

“It’s a community fair, and everything is based on the community,” she said. “It’s just a big neighborhood party.”