HOWARD LAKE, WAVERLY, WINSTED, MN – Members of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School FFA will be selling plants in the greenhouse at HLWW High School Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Go on the Facebook page to set up a time.
Archive for Waverly
Wright County spring load restrictions to end soon
WRIGHT COUNTY – The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDoT) will end spring load restrictions in the central frost zone, which includes the highways on the Wright County highway system, Monday, May 4 beginning at 12:01 a.m.
Wright County Fair in jeopardy, organizers still hopeful
WRIGHT COUNTY – Less than two months ago, plans were going full steam ahead for the 150th anniversary of the Wright County Fair, scheduled for July 22-26, at the Wright County Fairgrounds in Howard Lake.
Special anniversary-themed events were being planned. Prize giveaways were getting firmed up. Kids were going to get in free. It was setting up to be the biggest, best-attended county fair in its history.
But, as COVID-19 has effectively shut down any event where people gather, much less events that attract thousands of people, there is growing concern that the fair will need to be cancelled at some point.
However, as Commissioner Charlie Borrell said at Wednesday’s meeting of the Wright County Board of Commissioners, that time isn’t yet.
“We’re going to hold off as far as canceling until as late as we can,” Borrell said. “I know there was a deadline to print the fair guidebook. But, I had (Assistant County Attorney Greg Kryzer) look into it and they can actually do a digital edition as close as three weeks before the fair. It’s something we’re going to have to consult with the county board and the fair board will have to work with us. If COVID-19 is still hanging around and it cuts attendance down 20 percent, it would be a huge loss. It may be such a thing that we wait until next year to have our 150th anniversary. But, we don’t need to make a decision just yet.”
The guidebook component is important because of a state law with the Minnesota Agricultural Society (also known as the State Fair Board) that requires counties that receive grant money to assist in the operation of the fair, a guidebook must be printed. But, the potential decision on whether the plug gets pulled on the 2020 Wright County Fair may be out of Wright County’s control.
The company that operates the midway, like all vendors that work the fair circuit, is shut down and there are questions that, even if Wright County opts to go ahead with the fair, if there’s no midway, it will be closed down by force, not choice.
A worst-case scenario would be putting on the 150th anniversary of the fair and having a poor turnout.
“To be honest, we’re scared,” Borrell said. “If we drop anything more than 10 percent from last year’s numbers, we’re in the red and losing money. We need to have our numbers up to do anything more than break even. It’s a scary situation.”
The fair board has bought time prior to having to make a final decision, but economics could play a major factor. To cancel the fair wouldn’t be the financial loss that a public gathering with the cloud of COVID-19 hanging over it would potentially be.
Unless the situation takes a turn for the better quickly, that possibility becomes more of a likelihood.
“There would be some costs associated with maintaining the fairgrounds if we don’t have the fair, but most of the expenses are things we bring in and things we do,” Borrell said. “It would basically be a neutral money proposition. We wouldn’t lose a lot of money like we would if we put on the fair and attendance was way down. There are going to be discussions about what is the best course of action.”
In the event there isn’t a 2020 Wright County Fair, unlike spring sports, proms and graduations, it doesn’t mean the 150thanniversary would come and go without the typical fanfare. If charted by year, 2020 would actually be the 152nd Great Wright County Get-Together. For two years during World War II, the Wright County Fairgrounds served as a prisoner of war camp for German soldiers and there was no county fair.
Borrell is trying to hold out hope and there is still time for the currently grim short-term future to change – even if it looks like a longshot.
“If the worst happens, it will still be the 150th Wright County Fair the next time we have one,” Borrell said. “That could be in 2021. We just want to put off canceling it as long as we can and, as of now, we don’t have a ‘drop-dead’ date. There are some developments that could happen in the next month or two that changes the game and the lockdowns end. We won’t be fighting over ventilators and hospital bed space. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but that’s what we’re hoping for now.”
HLWW board to discuss graduation
HOWARD LAKE, WAVERLY, WINSTED, MN — HLWW School Board will discuss the 2020 graduation during its Monday, April 27 meeting, which will take place electronically.
Other items on the agenda include a Holy Trinity activities request, a levy and consultant, the district’s long-term facilities maintenance plan and projects, and potential future building projects.
Breakfast on the Farm canceled
CARVER COUNTY, WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Breakfast on the Farm Committee recently announced that the 2020 Wright Carver Breakfast on the Farm event has been canceled.
Organizers explained, “In light of the recent progression of coronavirus (COVID-19), and the Center for Disease Control guidance on mass gatherings, it will not be possible to do this with a live event in June.
The Diers Corporation Family Farm has extended their willingness to host Breakfast on the Farm in June 2021. Watch breakfastonthefarm.org for the announcement of the event date for next year.
Those who have already committed to a sponsorship through a donation of money for 2020, can either receive the money back or defer it to 2021.
Anyone planning to sponsor, but who has not yet committed, please, is encouraged to consider supporting the event in 2021.
For more information contact Pat Bakeberg at 763-242-4520, or emailbreakfastonthefarm@gmail.com.
Winstock 2020 Postponed to June 18-19, 2021
Following much thought, discussion, and prayer, the Winstock Country Music Festival Committee is saddened to announce the Winstock Country Music Festival, scheduled for Friday-Saturday, June 12-13, 2020, in Winsted, MN, is being postponed until Friday-Saturday, June 18-19, 2021.
“We held out on making this decision as long as we could, but we realize people need to adjust their plans accordingly,” Winstock Country Music Festival Committee Chairman Dave Danielson said. “With the COVID-19 pandemic, there are just too many unknowns with what the world will look like by June. As much as it hurts us to postpone Winstock, we think it is the right thing to do.”
Going into its 27th year, Winstock Country Music Festival is an annual fundraising event for Holy Trinity Catholic Schools in Winsted.
“This is a tough one,” Danielson continued. “Without Winstock in June, it is going to be very hard financially on Holy Trinity Schools.”
All ticket and camping orders placed at last year’s event or through Winstock’s online/phone ordering system for Winstock this year will be valid for the rescheduled dates in June 2021. Fans who have placed orders with Winstock will receive correspondence via US Mail within the next 7-10 days with additional information on their tickets/camping. As organizers work through additional details, the Winstock website will also be updated accordingly. Please watch for this mailing and an opportunity to contribute to Holy Trinity Catholic Schools.
“This is something we’ve never had to deal with,” Danielson said. “We are asking for everyone’s patience and support as we work through this to make sure we take care of our fans in the best manner possible. While we understand times are tough for a lot of folks, we are also hopeful some of them will consider giving a contribution to the school if they are able.”
The Winstock phone information line and e-mail system is manned by volunteers. To avoid it being overwhelmed, please refrain from calling or e-mailing at this time, and watch for communication via US Mail. If you do need to reach out with specific questions, organizers ask you be patient for a response.
The Winstock Committee is working with artist management in Nashville in an attempt to keep the artist lineup as in tact as possible for the event in 2021. Some artists may not be able to perform on the rescheduled dates, and updates to the lineup will be shared once known. The dates in 2021 are one week later than the normal weekend of Winstock due to a scheduling conflict with a large event in Nashville, but organizers feel moving it a week later provides the best opportunity to secure talent.
“Our fans can be rest assured we will work hard to provide the best lineup possible,” Danielson said. “As we’ve said before, the health and safety of our volunteers, fans, the artists and their crews, as well as our community of Winsted, is our top priority. We are hopeful to work through this together with our fans and that they will join us in 2021 for the best Winstock yet.”
