Coronavirus

La Crosse Interstate Fair postpones to 2021, exhibitors allowed extra year of eligibility

Published

4 years ago

June 9, 2020

The La Crosse County Agricultural Society announced the cancellation of the La Crosse Interstate Fair Tuesday after monitoring the COVID-19 situation for several months.

Originally scheduled July 15-19 at the fairgrounds in West Salem, the La Crosse Interstate Fair is a community educational event for exhibitors to share and showcase their pride. It is also for commercial merchants to inform the public of new technologies, inventions, products and services.

“The fair is a way to see the hard work of the county 4-H, FFA, and youth organizations projects as they build on life learning experiences,” the society said. “The fair is an opportunity to celebrate youth projects in the areas of animal sciences, home environment, mechanical and natural sciences, plant and soil sciences, visual arts, leadership, and much more for those in grades Kindergarten to one year past high school. We are all so very proud of everyone’s individual accomplishments.”

The La Crosse County Agricultural Society acknowledged the disappointment the community may feel, but said the safety of all involved was its highest priority under the circumstances.

Given the decision, the board did allow any youth exhibitor that has aged out of participation in 2020 and enrolled in a project to be eligible to participate in the 2021 La Crosse Interstate Fair within the same project area.

“We would like to thank the community for their support and understanding as well as the exhibitors, superintendents, judges, volunteers, first responders and the fair guests that make our fair so very special,” the society said.

The 130th La Crosse Interstate Fair is schedule for July 14-18.

Kaitlyn Riley

Kaitlyn Riley’s passion for communications started on her family’s dairy farm in Gays Mills, Wis. Wanting to share agriculture’s story, she studied strategic communications and broadcast journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In college, she held officer positions with the Association of Women in Agriculture and Badger Dairy Club while volunteering as a news reporter for the college radio station. She also founded the university’s first agricultural radio talk show, AgChat. In her professional career, Kaitlyn has worked in radio, print and television news doing everything from covering local events to interviewing presidential candidates, and putting back on her barn boots to chat with farmers in the field. Today, Kaitlyn can be seen covering local stories that matter to you in the La Crosse area.