Greater Grand Forks Fair to introduce more ag displays, new mascot for

Feb. 27—GRAND FORKS — The Greater Grand Forks Fair is dipping its toes into more agricultural features to give it more of the county fair feel, said the fair manager, and a new mascot is part of it.

Brandis Lafrombrois, who returned as manager last year, said she wants to provide more of a typical county fair experience to visitors.

“You walk in, you smell hay, it just feels like that quaint, small county fair,” she said. “You’re going to get a corn dog, you’re visiting the ag displays.”

The Greater Grand Forks Fair will have more ag displays, especially for kids, Lafrombrois said. Walking around the fair last year, she thought about how to connect people with local 4-H programs and ag education, especially teaching kids about where their food comes from. Some of the displays she’s planning will be dedicated to industries important to the area’s farming industry, such as potatoes, sugar beets and other grain products. She’s also trying to bring in a milking station, where kids can sit down and simulate milking a cow.

A fair mascot is also being introduced this year, and residents have been sending in name suggestions for the chance to win four mega passes. The mascot, whose name will be chosen by the board out of the suggestions, is a horse. Lafrombrois said the board chose a horse because of the horse arena near the fairgrounds and the 4-H horse shows. The idea for a mascot came when she went to a convention for other fair board volunteers and managers to discuss the industry, where a manager from Washington talked about how a mascot resonated with kids.

“I was like, ‘why haven’t we done that?'” Lafrombrois said. “I’m hoping that it’ll be an opportunity to connect with the youth in the community.”

The board is also working on other plans for the fair, like the evening racing, military and first responder day and other fair features. Grand Junction Subs might make an appearance among other concessions, and a Sea Lion Splash Show is scheduled as entertainment. Lafrombrois said the board has heard people ask for more entertainment at the fair, but it can be a challenge because of how expensive some acts are.

“It’s no secret,” she said. “We spend anywhere from $6,000 to $8,000 on entertainment acts.”

She said she hopes the community can engage with and embrace the acts brought into the fair, such as the sea lion show. She estimates the full fair schedule will be posted by early April, and periodic updates are available on the Fair’s Facebook page.

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