Johnsonville Brat Sponsors Family Night

Life is great at the 2008 Fond du Lac County Fair!  The fair gets underway with Johnsonville Family Night Tuesday July 16 th .  The gates open at 5:00 pm. and there is sure to be something for everyone.

When Family Night first started in 1995 it was called Sneak-a-Peek at the fair. Later it was renamed Family Night. "This night was a way of introducing the whole family to a county wide event at a reduced cost with local entertainment in a family orientated atmosphere", said George Stanchfield, Treasurer of the Fair Board. "This is all made possible with the help of sponsorships from area businesses".

"We are so happy to sponsor family night at the Fond du Lac County Fair. As a young girl from Campbellsport I was always very involved with the fair, said Shelly Stayer".  "I'm a very strong believer in the 4-H program and love to stroll through the buildings to see everyone's work. 4-H is an amazing way to teach children so many different skills.  It is the 4-H program that taught me how to sew, knit, bake  etc....some of these skills would be a lost art today without programs such as 4-H, said Stayer."

"At Johnsonville it is very important for us to be a player on the global scene, said Stayer." "We now produce brats in factories throughout the world. You can now find our product in over 39 countries.  At the same time it is important to the Stayer family to help support the area around Johnsonville (just outside of Plymouth). Our slogan BIG TASTE FROM A SMALL TOWN means a great deal to us and always will. Ralph specifically built a new global headquarters in Johnsonville (pop. 64) on the same property that his parents started their butcher shop."  

"We are very fortunate to have a very, generous sponsor this year in Johnsonville.  It's because of their support that we are able to provide these family activities at such a reasonable price, said Rose Boyke, Secretary of the Fair Board."

One of the new feature highlights of the Johnsonville Family Night for 2008 is the family band, Everything Fitz.  The Fitzgerald family band, from Bancroft Ontario, features some of the finest young fiddlers and dancers in the country. The sounds of the East Coast, French-Canadian, Texas-style and Old-Time are combined with Ottawa-Valley style step dancing to bring you a high energy and heartwarming performance.

People of all ages will be able to enjoy the Pick'n Save petting zoo which will feature a wide variety of different animals that you can experience up close.  Children will have a chance to see a huge variety of animals, milk a cow, feed the goats and see chicks hatching to name a few. 

The rides will also be ready to go!  Purchase a wristband for $15 and ride most rides all night if you dare!

And of course, come hungry!  The fair promises a huge assortment of food to satisfy a large variety of taste buds.  From Mexican burritos to a fair favorite Johnsonville Brat, you won't go home hungry.

Admission to Johnsonville Family Night will be $2.00 with kids 14 & under free. Fifty cents from each paid admission will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac.  "This is just one more way the Fond du Lac County Agricultural Society can give back to the community that has supported them over the last 156 years" said Stanchfield .

Shelly Stayer and Johnsonville have chosen the Boys and Girls Club to receive the donation money from the gate on Family Night. The Stayer family has constructed and named Boys and Girls Clubs in other cities of the state the closest being Sheboygan which is home to the Ralph and Alice Stayer Boys and Girls Club. Shelly is also the co-chair of the new 12 million dollar Boys and Girls Club/YMCA here in Fond du Lac.  *The gate receipts will go to sponsor children in the program not building costs.

"I usually attended the Fair everyday when I was young, remembers Stayer." "My father John Reilly would volunteer his time as the auctioneer in the animal barn.  Ralph's father would also attend to look for the prize hog that year.  We both are very happy to have this new partnership between the Fond du Lac County Fair and Johnsonville Brats."