Citizen Staff/Hank Snyder
Above, Braxton Bischoff, 9 of Hustisford. takes a few spare moments to brush his calf's tail.
If all is well that end’s well, then the 2009 Dodge County Fair couldn’t have had a better ending.
Spotty showers early in the five-day run of the Dodge County Fair, were the only blemish in nearly perfect weather for the event this year.
As a result, fair association secretary Sharon Keil said Sunday afternoon that final attendance numbers should be around 50,000, making the 2009 edition of the fair a success.
“Everything has been real good,” Keil said. “We have not had any major problems.”
There were 401 people with 3,643 entries in the open class. Keil said that was 17 more people and about 500 more entries than 2008.
Feedback from the carnival rides has been positive and Keil said the Wild World of Animals has had rave reviews from fairgoers.
“We really like that show this year,” Keil said of the wild World of Animals, which returned after an absence of several years.
She also had positive feedback from some of the commercial exhibitors.
Debbie Omen, who had a booth for the beverage Mona Vie, said, “This is our first year, and it’s been great. There are enough people and it’s been fun. The weather didn’t affect anyone and the organizers were very helpful, plus the grounds were kept very clean.”
The Rev. Steve Aust at a booth for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Beaver Dam said turnout for 2009 was similar to last year, but the cooler weather made the fair more pleasant.
“All this is free advertising,” said Jim Dais of Bethesda Country Store in Horicon. “There are a lot more lookers this year, but people are friendly.”
Over at The Sugar Shack Don Bertrand said it was his first year at the Dodge County Fair.
“Business has been steady, and we’ve been enjoying our booth,” Bertrand said.
Final fair numbers should be available later today.