By Lori EhdeThe 93rd Annual Rock County Fair officially starts today at the fairgrounds in Luverne.It will have all the usual makings of a festive, hometown county fair, including livestock shows, open class competition, midway rides and corndogs.But local planners always introduce something new to the Rock County Fair each year.According to Fair Board Secretary Lyle Nelson, this year’s newcomers include a tractor pull, something the Rock County Fair hasn’t seen in about 10 years.Instead of the Johnny Holm Band, which has been the featured entertainment for years, the South Dakota Pullers Association will bring a pool of tractors, including local entries, to the grandstand Thursday night.Returning to the grandstand this year is the Rock County Talent Contest, in its second year, on Friday night with more than 20 entries.Saturday night’s grandstand entertainment will be the Enduro Races, which typically attract crowds of 700 to 800 people. "It’s a very big night for us," Nelson said.Other newcomers to the fairgrounds include the Mason’s child I.D. program.The Masons of Rock County will provide a child I.D. program from a booth in the building just north of the 4-H building during the Rock County Fair. The purpose is to provide parents with positive identification of their children by recording their ages, height, weight and fingerprints, along with a digitally recorded photo. Parents will have complete control of the information and it will be their responsibility to keep it in a safe place.The most prominent newcomer to this year’s fair will be the big red Fitzer Barn.The barn, built in 1902, was donated to the Rock County Historical Society by the Maurice Fitzer family and was moved to its location just south of the 4-H building last year. It will be used to display local farm antiques, which rural residents are donating from all corners of the county.While Nelson said he’s not in charge of the weather this year, he said the area needs rain now, "so if it comes, that’ll be a happy deal."
