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‘Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair’ crew shares their favorite memories of the fair
February 17, 2025 Leave a Comment
In the new PBS Wisconsin documentary, Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair, beloved Wisconsin author and storyteller Jerry Apps weaves together the over 180-year history of Wisconsin fairs through his memories as a 4-H leader, fair judge and lifelong fairgoer.
With Apps as our historic and nostalgic guide to the fair, Wisconsin fairgoers young and old join him in sharing what makes the county fair meaningful to them.
Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair premieres 7 p.m. Monday, March 3, on PBS Wisconsin and will also be available shortly after the premiere at pbswisconsin.org and streaming on the free PBS app.
In anticipation of the premiere, PBS Wisconsin asked some of the crew about their favorite elements of the fair.
Sound recordist Eckes, farthest right, monitors audio during an interview with Jerry Apps.
Kerman Eckes, sound recordist, design and mixing
Favorite fair ride: Tilt-A-Whirl
Favorite fair food: This is a toss up between cream puffs — which I only eat at the State Fair or a county fair — and baked potatoes with all sorts of yummy toppings.
Favorite fair animal: Belted Galloways, or as I like to call them, “Oreo Cows.”
Favorite memory of working on Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair: Interviewing the 4-H kids was fabulous. No matter what age, the kids all had amazing energy, drive, creativity and dedication. It was an honor to think of their accomplishments and where the future will lead them.
I also think about the first shoot we did for the show with Jerry. It was in mid-June and you’d think you’d have decent weather that time of year, but Mother Nature had her own ideas. The day turned out to be rainy and absolutely freezing. We all were so bundled up that you’d have thought we were shooting in November, not June. The shoot went on, Jerry was wonderful and a lot of the interview we did that day made it into the show.
Alma Garcia Bello, lead videographer and editor
Favorite fair ride: The merry-go-round
Favorite fair food: Chocolate funnel cake and lemonade!
Favorite fair animal: I love the sheep!
Favorite memory of working on Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair: In August 2023 while recording the Dane County Fair, I noticed I was part of an all-women crew with Mary, Kerman and Lina. It felt awesome, and it was my first recording in my career with an all-women crew.
Art director Hadley, left, and lead videographer/editor Garcia Bello, right, enjoy the Waushara County Fair.
Jennifer Hadley, art direction
Favorite fair ride: The Ferris wheel. I love the view, and it’s not too scary!
Favorite fair food: Kettle corn and lemonade.
Favorite fair animal: The chickens — there are so many glorious colors and shapes!
Favorite memory of working on Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair: Seeing people light up when they learned that Jerry Apps was part of our production. His connection with the 4-H community is incredible!
Mary Pokorney-Donelan, producer
Favorite fair ride: I’m not a fan of rides or heights so that pretty much leaves me with the merry-go-round. But, I could be talked into a Ferris wheel every once in a while.
Favorite fair food: Forget sugar … give me the salt. I’d have to say my favorite is a greasy cheeseburger.
Favorite fair animal: I always look for the biggest pig there is, but the baby pigs are very cute as well.
Favorite memory of working on Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair: I loved meeting and talking to all of the passionate people who love their fairs. (My least favorite was riding the Tilt-A-Whirl with a GoPro … never again.)
Videographer Soblytė captures overhead drone footage at the Dane County Fair.
Lina Soblytė, videographer
Favorite fair ride: Ferris wheel. I get motion sickness, so that’s a safe scenic choice for me.
Favorite fair food: Funnel cake.
Favorite fair animal: Silkies!
Favorite memory of working on Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair: My favorite part was seeing kids involved in taking care of farm animals and really enjoying it. You don’t see that a lot these days — treating them as their pets.
Producer Pokorney-Donelan, left, and videographer Whitford, right, prepare to film an interview.
Zack Whitford, videographer
Favorite fair ride: Scrambler!
Favorite fair food: Grilled cheese. The Sheboygan County Fair always had these bomb grilled cheese put on by the Lion’s Club.
Favorite fair animal: Bunnies.
Favorite memory of working on Jerry Apps: Meet Us at the Fair: I only did one shoot for this production, but it was with Jerry and it was fun to get to meet him and chat with him a little. Such a great guy!
Ann Meyer Schmidt says:
I live near Wautoma, in my retirement, so am familiar with the Waushara Count Fair. Jerry Apps lived north of the county seat and describes trips to Wautoma to show at the fair in the mid 20th century as so much work and fun!
Our daughter showed a horse at the Dane County Fair some 30 years ago, so I saw the stress from the inside there. Our other daughter showed plants and flower arrangements in the Forum. That was a lot easier!
I’ve worked the county Democratic Party booth at Waushara fair a few times in a few different locations under a few different party leaders. Usually boring, hot and humid, but always interesting to meet people both behind and across the table.
I guess the county fair is an important part of our nation’s life, even today! It’s a place to look and be looked at, to perform and display, to play music and to dance and clap, and to gather with your neighbors under a summer sky for some fun, games and most important some relaxation.
Tara Lovdahl says:
Thank you for sharing, Ann!
There are so many elements to a county fair, and we are thrilled Jerry Apps — and so many other fair-lovers, like yourself! — helped us share some of Wisconsin’s fair story. We hope you enjoy the special!