Wesden Wooge of the Forest City FFA won the trophies for Grand Champion Market Steer as well as Grand Champion Rate of Gain at the Winnebago County Fair Beef Show on Friday, July 17. Look for more photos and full 4-H and FFA results from the 2026 Winnebago County Fair in an upcoming edition of the Tribune. (Photo by Andrew Shaw)

Brinley Miller of Forest City and Maverick Ray of Thompson won the titles of Little Miss and Mr. Winnebago County Fair during last week’s fair in Thompson. Brinley is the daughter of Ross and Chelsea Miller, and Maverick is the son of Kelli Hill and Jacob Ray.

All 15 contestants made an impression on the judges, with each of the kids receiving a special title.

Aubrey Olson is living out a longtime dream after taking the crown as the 2026 Winnebago County Fair Queen. Olson was crowned on the first evening of the fair, Wednesday, July 15, by 2025 Fair Queen Emma Eichenberger.

“It’s really exciting,” said Olson. “I am so happy, because this has been a goal of mine for a long time to be up here standing in front of everyone.”

It’s a milestone year for Forest City’s Puckerbrush Days celebration, which kicks off its 40th annual event on Friday, July 17. 

Buffalo Center’s annual Bison Days community celebration is next weekend, July 24-26, and most of the activities will be held in Lions Park this year.

About 90 runners and walkers came out on an already warm morning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 11 for the annual July Jubilee 5K in Lake Mills. The contest featured medalists in 14 divisions, as well as the overall winner, which was Gavin Grunhovd with a time of 16:29. He was followed across the finish line by Knute Rogne in second and Justin Rygh in third.

Siblings Ami’jay and Alanna Unseld are the 2026 July Jubilee Little Mr. and Ms. in Lake Mills, as the pair was crowned during the downtown community night on Friday, July 10. Ami’jay, age five, completed 4-year-old preschool this spring, while his sister Alanna, age seven, recently completed first grade. They are the children of Allen Unseld and Chelsey Adams and Anna Zarro.

Brad Evenson will get to sit back and enjoy a leisurely ride as a passenger in the July Jubilee parade in Lake Mills this weekend, after spending decades behind the steering wheel of a school bus. He will serve as the Grand Marshal for the parade on Saturday, July 11, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Troop 418 is celebrating 100 years of Scouting in Forest City this year, and all troop members and leaders past and present are invited to be recognized as Grand Marshals of the Puckerbrush Parade on Saturday, July 18. The Puckerbrush Committee is honoring the Scouts for the lasting impact they have made on Forest City over the past century.

The 2026 Winnebago County Fair kicks off next Wednesday, July 15 at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds with a five-day lineup that includes new and returning acts.

The fair will welcome a new carnival this year, Get R’ Fried, who is known for their fried food in addition to their carnival rides. The carnival will run all five days of the fair, July 15-19.

Four decades after its founding, Puckerbrush Days continues to bring thousands of residents and visitors together each summer to celebrate Forest City's history, community spirit, and hometown traditions.

The Buffalo Center Volunteer Fire Department lit up the sky on the Fourth of July with a fireworks display to celebrate America’s 250th birthday last Saturday evening. The weather held off for the show, but then Mother Nature put on another light show shortly afterward, as a thunderstorm rolled down from Minnesota. (Photos by Andrew Shaw)

Lake Mills will offer three days of fun for people of all ages this weekend, July 10-12, during the annual July Jubilee celebration.

The community of Scarville will celebrate America’s big 250th birthday this Saturday, July 4, with a day full of activities.

The morning begins with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. at Scarville Lutheran School, located at 411 Logan Street. The meal runs from 7-10 a.m. and features pancakes, sausage patties, scrambled eggs, orange juice, and coffee for a freewill donation.

An exciting weekend is in store July 10-12 in Lake Mills, during the annual July Jubilee celebration.