This is true county pride. Every year, Wally Strand spends months preparing and making sure everything goes right at the Meeker County Fair demolition derby. “I start preparing for the fair by sending out 300 registrations at the beginning of the year to drivers who have taken part (in the county fair’s demolition derby) the past two years,” Strand said. “And two weeks before the fair, my wife and I are on the phone with drivers who didn’t get the registration forms in the mail.” It is a long process and one that the Kimball man does not take lightly. This was his 13th year volunteering at the Meeker County Fair that went on from Thursday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 8, in Litchfield. In just over a decade on the county fair board, Strand has been in charge of the demolition derbies and Figure 8 races. He has implemented many rules to better the events and has been instrumental in getting more money put in to attract more drivers. “We give the drivers good prizes and trophies,” Strand said. Strand is aware that demolition derbies are one of the biggest attractions at fairs. Sure, some may have come for the cheese curds and 4-H fun, but the turnout for the demo derby shows that many are at the fair for a dosage of high testosterone entertainment. “The biggest event and biggest money-maker (at the fair) is the demolition derby,” Strand said. He is even a fan of it. “Both my sons have raced here and that’s how I got interested,” he explained. His wife, Jan, soon joined in and has helped him coordinate and handle registration for the races the last eight years. “This is kind of fun, but stressful at the same time,” Jan said. “Luckily we get a lot of help and that takes the stress off.” One thing Wally has made sure of each year is making improvements on the derby and Figure 8 races. “We put in new grandstands in 2000,” Strand said. “Since I’ve been on the board, we have put in improvements like a new dairy barn and a new speaker system. Our fair board is progressive and the county commissioners have helped out with our improvements.” His colleague on the fair board, Jean Holm, agrees. “I was the first woman on the board when I joined in 1980,” Holm said. “When I started out, the fair was very crude and has come a long way.” Holm is the secretary for the Meeker County Fair Board. Both she and Strand have worked alongside each other for many years. This year, Holm worked to add a tent for local musicians to perform. This way fair-goers are able to enjoy music by both local artists and the better-known acts that usually dominate the bandshell. “One of the biggest challenges we face each year is coming up with events that are entertaining for all ages,” Holm said. The Meeker County Fair may have ended Sunday, but Strand, Holm and the rest of the board have started evaluating what went right and wrong this year and are already thinking of next year’s fair. “Everything we do is voluntary and I think what we do is worth it and good for the kids,” Strand said. For Jan, the whole purpose of working so hard is to make sure the fair gets better each year. “It’s pride of our county,” she added.
