Ridgeland Mural Dedication

This mural celebrates the history of the Ridgeland Fair in a visually colorful public art display. Photos by Donnette Mickelson

By Donnette Mickelson

On Tuesday, June 30, I had the honor of dedicating the new mural painted by the Walldogs that is located on the south side of the former Jorstad’s store building. This mural celebrates the history of the Ridgeland Fair in a visually colorful public art display. While there were many people who were involved in bringing this project to life, a special thank you goes to Dick and Elly Micheels, Corey and Donnette Mickelson, and Dunn Energy. 

What follows here is the dedication from that evening.

Good evening everyone, and welcome to this special dedication of the historic mural created by the Walldogs for the Ridgeland Fair. Today we celebrate more than paint on a wall — we celebrate the people, stories, and traditions that built this community and continue to shape it today.

For generations, the Ridgeland Fair has been a gathering place where neighbors reconnect, families make memories, and hard work is proudly displayed. The fair has long reflected the heart of rural Wisconsin and the spirit of this community.

The fair began in 1924 when Louis Handorf made a motion that a fair should be held in Ridgeland. Since then, the fair has continued every year, except in 1946, when a polio epidemic swept the area, causing the fair to be canceled. In the early years, the fair was a one-day event, with exhibits of crops, flowers, and crafts, as well as food stands in the park, and of course, a parade. The first Ridgeland fair featured a horseshoe pitching contest, a tug of war between Barron and Dunn County men, a ladies' nail driving contest, foot races for children and adults, and an afternoon baseball game. Through the years, the fair has held other events like a rodeo, dairy cattle judging, go-kart racing, horse pulling, and of course, the demolition derby and tractor pull. The modern-day Fair continues to provide fun for all, and has now become a four-day affair, with a demolition derby on Friday night, a street dance on Saturday night, the big tractor pull on Sunday night, and winding up on Monday with a morning horse pull and the afternoon grand parade.

After over one hundred years, the Ridgeland Fair continues to be an event the whole family can enjoy and is truly a place where old friends meet.

This mural captures those memories and preserves them for future generations. It honors the farmers who worked the land, the families who volunteered countless hours, and the community members who kept traditions alive year after year.

Ole Jorstad and his wife Bertina, along with business partner A. Pomgratz, were running the Ridgeland Supply Company Store when Ridgeland started in 1900. After a fire destroyed much of Ridgeland's business district along South Diamond Street in 1905, the brick building still standing here today was built. It operated as a store for over 100 years. Even my mother-in-law Jeanette worked at the store in the 1960’s and 70’s. The store continued to operate well into the 2000s as Jorstads Store, at which time Larry Jess, Corey Mickelson, and the late Brian Wirth purchased the building and made much-needed repairs and updates.  Thank you to these community members who were so willing to have this mural placed on the building and for their value to the community and understanding why it is important to continue improving our community. 

Art has a unique way of telling stories when words alone cannot. Every image, every detail, and every brushstroke in this mural reminds us where we came from and why our shared history matters. It is a tribute to resilience, community pride, and the simple moments that become lifelong memories.

A project like this does not happen without dedication and teamwork. We extend sincere thanks to the artists, organizers, volunteers, donors, and community members who helped bring this vision to life. Your efforts have created something that will inspire pride and conversation for years to come. I encourage everyone to add your name and a few thoughts to our library time capsule, which is by the food stand, to remember this moment in time. 

As we admire this mural and celebrate the history it represents, we must also remember that the future of Ridgeland depends on all of us. The traditions, events, and community spirit that make this town special do not happen on their own. They happen because people step forward to volunteer, share their talents, and give their time. Whether it's helping with community events, serving on local committees, supporting the fair, or lending a hand when needed, every volunteer makes a difference. We invite everyone here tonight to become part of Ridgeland's next chapter. Together, we can preserve our history, strengthen our community, and ensure that Ridgeland continues to thrive for generations to come.  As we dedicate this mural today, may it serve as a reminder that history is not only found in books — it lives in our communities, our traditions, and the people gathered here tonight.

May this mural continue to honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire future generations to cherish the legacy of the Ridgeland Fair. Thank you. Let’s enjoy this special celebration together, and let's continue building a community we are proud to call home- a place where old friends meet.