Henry County Fair drops tractor pull, plans new Friday night event

MT. PLEASANT — News of the truck and tractor pull at the Henry County Fair not returning this summer broke as Alicia Yocum updated the Henry County Board of Supervisors with an annual report last week.

The Henry County Fair Board updated the Henry County Board of Supervisors on the upcoming fair during a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, highlighting recent improvements and a major event change.

While Yocum’s report included information about recent improvements and other happenings at the fair grounds, one of the biggest pieces of information shared involves one long-lived grandstand event, the truck and tractor pull.

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“We’re not bringing the truck and tractor pull back,” Yocum said. “It will be a little quieter out there because the tractor pull will not be there. We lost money every year on that event, so we're trying something new.”

At this time, Yocum said the board was not quite ready to share what exactly will replace the truck and tractor pull, but promised a fresh addition.

“We have plans for a new and exciting Friday night event, but we’re not ready to announce it yet,” Yocum said.

The fair board also reported ongoing improvements to facilities, particularly the cattle and sheep barns.

“If you've been out to the fairgrounds, you might have noticed we rewired the cattle barn for the fans required during the fair,” Yocum shared. “We also changed some gates and opened up the east end of the barn. These updates make it easier for exhibitors and livestock handlers to move through the space.”

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The sheep and goat barn was not left out and also received upgrades.

“We purchased pens last year for the sheep and goat barn because the previous ones were too heavy and didn’t allow for the necessary layout,” Yocum said. “Our sheep and goat numbers keep growing, and even with these new pens, we ran out of room. The good news is, we were able to sell the old pens to another fair, so they will still be put to good use.”

Fair organizers also made changes to static exhibit displays.

“We purchased and changed a few displays last year,” Yocum said. “We’re trying to improve little by little. We noticed that our booth display boards were getting worn out, so we’ve replaced some of them with newer, more durable ones.”

These upgrades and daily operation of the Henry County Fair are funded by donations and support from the county. Yocum reported that the fair saw an increase in business donations last year.

“We saw more donations, which was great, and hopefully, we can continue that growth this year,” she said. “It’s really encouraging to see local businesses supporting the fair.”

In addition to the annual report, Yocum requested $23,000 of support from the county on the board’s behalf. This money would go toward general expenses just as it has in previous years.

When asked about attendance, Yocum explained that tracking exact numbers remains difficult. However, one estimate came from a popular event.

“If you look at our Saturday night demo derby, the grandstand holds 1,500, and we overpopulate that area, plus the pits,” Yocum said. “That’s probably our biggest crowd for the fair, but overall attendance is hard to gauge.”

Yocum reaffirmed the board’s continued collaboration with local organizations.

“We work with Iowa State Extension Service, 4-H, and FFA,” she said. “The Fair Board is responsible for putting on the fair, while 4-H is in charge of their exhibits, and FFA plays a role as well.”

Supervisors expressed appreciation for the board's efforts.

“I appreciate the work you do. I know you get paid one meal a year,” Supervisor Marc Lindeen said.

The Henry County Fair continues evolving, and board members remain hopeful that these changes will enhance the experience for attendees. With facility improvements and a new Friday night event in the works, fairgoers can expect an updated experience this year.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com