LINN — Despite weather concerns that forced organizers to make several difficult decisions, Linn Lions Osage County Fair Chairman Andy Dudenhoeffer believes the fair continued to build on the event’s longstanding success while introducing new attractions that drew larger crowds and kept visitors on the grounds throughout the weekend.

“We had three of the best weather days, temperature-wise, in fair history,” Dudenhoeffer said. “Just having these fair dates a month earlier, essentially, we got some of these cooler days.”

While rain cut Thursday night’s tractor pull short and threatening forecasts altered plans for Saturday, Dudenhoeffer said the weather challenges were manageable. “It might have seemed like it ended the tractor pull early, and it did, but I was working the announcement,” he said. “Honestly, there’s only three classes remaining, and they were all one or two tractors per class, so we probably called it 30 minutes before it would have ended anyway.”

Dudenhoeffer said uncertainty surrounding the forecast likely kept some pullers at home, resulting in smaller classes, but he felt the rain arrived late enough that most fairgoers had already made it to the grounds.

“I think that rain came at a good enough time, and it wasn’t a huge storm,” he said. “I think it was two-tenths of an inch, but it was enough to kind of put a damper on things. It came late enough that anyone who was going to come for the fair that night would have already been there, so we captured our audience we were going to get by 8:30.”

Friday, however, more than made up for the abbreviated opening night. “Friday was the prettiest fair day I’ve ever seen in my life,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I think people who didn’t come on Thursday came on Friday and let their kids ride the rides. We had people at the fairgrounds all day.”

He pointed to the Mid-Missouri Truck and Tractor Pull Association event as one of the weekend’s highlights.

“That truck and tractor pull seemed to be like the hit of the fair,” Dudenhoeffer said. “Those bleachers were packed from grandstand to grandstand. I haven’t verified it yet, but from what our treasurer, John Deeken, has told me, that was possibly our biggest Friday ever in fair history, so that was nice to see.”

Years of improvements to the pulling surface paid dividends.

“We’ve added a hundred loads of Gasconade River bottom topsoil to that track in the last two and a half years,” Dudenhoeffer said.

Feedback from competitors confirmed the investment was worthwhile.

“I talked to Donnie Bungart, who owns the sled, and a handful of pullers,” Dudenhoeffer said. “They said that’s the best track they’ve been on all year so far. So that was good to hear.”

Saturday brought another challenge as forecasts called for potentially severe weather.

“Mark Loethen and I did a lot of talking early that morning,” Dudenhoeffer said. “If you looked at the weather going into Saturday morning, it looked pretty doubtful that we were going to have anything Saturday evening, so we made our best judgment call.”

That decision led organizers to cancel the Osage County Drifters and karaoke competition. The Mint Hill Choir decided not to sing as well.

“Half of it is just communicating to people that it’s not going to be there,” Dudenhoeffer said. “People like to be informed.”

However, organizers still wanted entertainment after the Mud Bowl and moved Back Road Bonfire from the main stage into the 4-H hog barn.

“We cleaned it out,” Dudenhoeffer said. “They rocked out in the hog building. It worked out pretty well.”

The location also proved beneficial for the growing cornhole tournament. “The cornhole competition, I think it ended up featuring 22 teams from, I would say, a tri-state, quad-state area,” Dudenhoeffer said. “Everyone I talked to said that the competition was really, really good.”

He credited Brendon Hostler for much of that success.

“Brendon did a nice job organizing and promoting that event,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I kind of took a hands-off approach because I felt like the following was there through him.”

Dudenhoeffer said he was pleased with the turnout and expects the event to continue growing. “I was proud of him,” he said. “He did a nice job. I thought the turnout was great, and I think it’s just going to keep growing through the years.”

While cornhole has become a staple, Dudenhoeffer said other throwing events could eventually return.

“We intend to bring washers back,” he said. “I would like to get the horseshoes coming back, too. I think there is room for growth there.”

One of his primary goals this year was bringing more life to the fairgrounds on Saturday before the Mud Bowl.

“Saturday, it’s just always been a ghost town until the Mud Bowl starts,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I wanted people to be there on the grounds just to give it some life, and it happened this year.”

The combination of the Wingin’ It smoking competition and cornhole tournament accomplished that goal. Dudenhoeffer estimated that several hundred people spent the day at the fairgrounds.

“We sold close to 100 tickets for the wing competition at 10 bucks apiece,” he said, noting the deal included two drinks. “That was the best deal in the park that day, I thought. The wings were good.”

The smoking competition itself is already poised to expand. “Next year we’re going to grow this into chicken wings, ribs, and pork steaks,” Dudenhoeffer said. “Hopefully, we’ll get some more interest and have eight teams next year.”

One of his favorite stories involved first-time competitor Timothy Wagner. “The coolest thing about the smoking competition is you had people that have been doing it forever, like Ronnie Stockman,” Dudenhoeffer said. “Then you had people in their very first competition, like Timothy. He’s 14 years old. He put a smoking team together and did a cook-off with them. I thought that was neat.”

Dudenhoeffer said the Mud Bowl provided nearly seven hours of entertainment.

“It started at 4 o’clock and ended close to 11,” he said. “It gave people something to watch and be entertained for quite a good amount of time.”

Law enforcement and community support also played a major role. “I actually talked to (Major) Travis Shaffer, and he said it was a very low-key three-day event,” Dudenhoeffer said. “No drama at all. I can’t thank the sheriff’s department for keeping everyone behaved and secure while we’re having our events”

He also praised State Tech for providing areas for visitors to park.

Dudenhoeffer said sponsorship support has transformed what the Lions Club can accomplish. “We have raised this year for both the Bull Bash and fair events a combined $62,000,” he said. “That’s not a little bit. That’s a lot. Before, we were just kind of getting by. I feel right now that we’re thriving.”

Looking ahead, Dudenhoeffer said he wants to continue balancing tradition with new ideas. “I want to continue being future-focused,” he said. “I want to add something every year to bring people in while at the same time maintaining old traditions as well. People like to see that.”

Here are activity results.

Best Decorated Turtle: Barret Dudenhoeffer (first), Elyse Koenigsfeld (second)

Turtle Race: Ali Klebba (first), Barret Dudenhoeffer (second), Nora Bradford (third)

Bubble Gum Blowing Contest, Kids Division: Anslee Dudenhoeffer (first), Ali Klebba (second), and Violet Sullentrup (third).

Water Balloon Toss, Children Under Ten: Blake Hoffman, Barret Dudenhoeffer, Kendall Hoffman, and Winston Catron shared first place.

Water Balloon Toss, Ages Ten and Older: Elyse Koenigsfeld and Violet Sullentrup (first); Frances Otten and Rainah Wilson, and Nora Bradford and Layla Loethen tied for second.

Water Balloon Toss, Adults: John and Jessica Klebba (first); Justin and Michelle Mosley, and Tamara Wilson and Lara Alderson tied for second.

Twist Contest, Kids Division: Elyse Koenigsfeld (first) and Layla Loethen (second).

Twist Contest, Adults Division: Heather Loethen (first) and Rick Brandt (second).

Kids Hot Wheel Race: Reese Gray (first) and Wyatt Niemann (second).

Adult Hula Hoop Contest: Miranda Backes (first) and Shawn Frank (second).

Kids Hula Hoop Contest: Kizzie Kliethermes (first) and Blakely Ruediger (second).

Parent-Child Look-Alike Contest: Marybeth Kixmiller and Lori Kixmiller (first), and Kim Trachsel and Emily Frank (second).

Kids Tractor Pull, Under 45 Pounds: Blake Helmig (first, 61’3”), Reese Gray (second, 59’11”), and Brynlee Goeller (third, 59’4”).

Kids Tractor Pull, 46-56 Pounds: Bentley Backes (first, 61’10”), Mason Branson (second, 61’7”), and Zeke Hostetler (third, 54’4”).

Kids Tractor Pull, 56-65 Pounds: Ayden Bickell (first, 66’1”), Sadie Kempker (second, 64’10”), and John Craig Klebba (third, 57’0”).

Kids Tractor Pull, Over 65 Pounds: Jaxon Hostetler (first, 64’3”), William Kremer (second, 60’11”), and Brooklyn Goeller (third, 58’9”).