For the second consecutive year, the Shawano County Fair had record attendance, according to the Shawano Area Agricultural Society, which oversees the fairgrounds.
Attendance at the 2025 fair was 74,091, an increase of 4.5% from the 2024 attendance record of 70,751.
“The only thing is … the Wolf River Lutheran Church told us this will be the last year they’re doing the gates,” Scott Breitrick, president of the Fair Board Association, told members of the Shawano County Board on Feb. 25. “So, we have to find someone to help do the gates and parking, which is a big deal.”
Once again, revenues outpaced expenses for the fair, according to financial statements for the year ended Oct. 31, 2025. Operating revenues topped out at $793,277, while expenses totaled $456,765.
Unfortunately, the Shawano Speedway lost money again in the 2025 season, although not as much as in 2024.
In 2025, raceway operating revenues were $450,224, and expenses were $451,516 for a loss of $1,292. The previous year, the track lost $32,850.
Speedway operating revenues were down $106,033 from the previous year.
Total operating revenue for the ag society — including the fair, race track, building and grounds rentals, general and gain or loss on the disposal of assets — dropped from $1,382,570 in 2024 to $1,317,486 in 2025. Expenses dropped from $1,337,920 to $1,191,446.
Breitrick reminded supervisors that Stan Giese is the new race director, and the ag society continues to work with county officials on plans to shorten the half-mile track to a three-eighths of a mile.
“Hopefully we can get that done after race season,” he said.
Also, Missy Teske has been hired for race promotion and sponsorships.
The pit area was also moved, and a new pit fence was installed. A water truck was donated to the speedway, too.
New clay was added to the track to replace sand and loam that had overtaken the raceway.
“We got 100 loads donated,” Breitrick said about the clay. “People in the community donated $200 a load, and we got half the loads donated.”
Breitrick also touched on a number of improvements at the fairgrounds in 2025.
The new coliseum was dug out and then filled with concrete. For the new coliseum, synthetic turf and metal pens were installed. New wood displays were set up with some additional windows. New exhaust fans and lighting were also installed.
“We’ve had people come from all over — different counties — wanting to know how we did this,” he said.
He noted that all of the concrete and other work in the coliseum was donated, so there was no cost to the taxpayers.
New siding and doors were installed on the Gresham Fire Department stand, new LED lights were installed in the Commercial Building, the Sun Drop truck was repaired and repainted, the horse barn was power washed and painted and a new ATM machine was installed.
Two ash trees were removed with more to follow.
“We’re going to be talking with Andy at TimberPro,” Breitrick said. “We’re taking all the ash down.”
The tree removal is expected to happen late this month.
“TimberPro is going to take care of all their costs,” Breitrick said. “They actually want people to come out and see a machine work.”
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Lydia Rasmussen shows off her cattle entry in the remodeled coliseum at the 2025 Shawano County Fair. Attendance at last year’s event set a new record of 74,091. (File | NEW Media)
A carnival worker wipes down his booth at the 2025 Shawano County Fair. Attendance at last year’s event set a new record of more than 74,000. While income from the fair increased from the year before, the Shawano Speedway lost money over the course of the season, according to financial records filed with the county board in February. (File | NEW Media)
