Back in 2019, there was a lot of disappointment directed toward the Lyon County Fair Board when it was feared it would not be able to procure carnival rides for the upcoming fair. The crisis was eventually averted with the signing of the Todd Armstrong Show to provide carnival rides.

Then in July of 2020, the Lyon County Fair Board reported to the board of commissioners a $10,000 loss caused by the decision to not hold a fair in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So the fair board has handled its fair share of disappointment in recent years. But the members of that board can safely put those disappointments behind them after the successful 2021 fair held last month.

Spurred by almost perfect weather, the five-day fair drew large crowds to the various events and carnival rides.

“Everything lined up for us,” fair board Treasurer Bob Richards was quoted in an Aug. 27 article.

“Overall, it was just a great fair,” board secretary Delores Richards said.

We agree with both of them.

It’s true attendance can’t be accurately counted because there is no paid admission. However, good estimates can be made by crowds filling the grandstand for the rodeo and the demolition derby. And the fair board received positive feedback from vendors and the carnival provider. The midway and food stands were busy throughout the fair. And the musical entertainment starting with Whitesidewalls on opening night, was top-notch.

But the summer fun didn’t stop with the fair. A week later, the Sounds of Summer rocked downtown Marshall. People lined up on both sides of Main Street for the afternoon parade. There was plenty of food and beverages. And the second annual duck race was hit, with people of all ages following the ducks down the river.

Meanwhile, the evening entertainment — Roxbury and Nasty Habit — kept people dancing and swaying to the music all night long.

Both the Lyon County Fair and Sounds of Summer hit home runs this summer.

And that proves a point: provide good entertainment and people will come.