The “Free Stage” has been a focal point of activity at the Wright County Fair for decades. Many local youth have walked the runway for the 4-H Fashion Revue style show there. Many have performed dance numbers, sang songs, played a musical instrument, or put on a Share the Fun skit there. Countless Fair Queens have been crowned there. Community members and semi-pro entertainers have also had their time to shine on that stage be they the Eagle Grove Community Band or guests like Billy Heller who entertains while fair patrons enjoy the annual free fair meal on Thursday evening each year. So when the wind storm of 2016 completely destroyed the stage, it was devastating not only for the fair board, but the entire community of Wright County. It literally changed a landmark location forever.
The Fair Board knew the stage had to be replaced, but quickly discovered it would not be something they could “just do.” It was going to be very expensive, and it wasn’t in the budget. By the time the Fair of 2017 rolled around, they knew they needed someplace for all of the usual activities to take place, but a permanent fixture was not looking good. Instead, they rented a mobile stage. It worked, but the Fair Board was grateful when they received a request that same year from Dick and Kevin Cahalan to be part of an upcoming Wright County Fair Board meeting. They wanted to hear more about the Free Stage plans. As trustee for the James R. Johnson Charitable Trust, Dick thought perhaps this might be the perfect project that Johnson would have chosen to contribute money to were he still alive. Kevin, as a caregiver to Johnson, and Charlie Walker as the attorney for his estate, agreed.
More than $200,000 was donated from the James R. Johnson Charitable Trust to build the 46’ by 38’ Classic Recreation “Sierra” shelter with concrete foundation. It also included an 8’ by 38’ concrete dressing room / storm shelter with 8” poured walls at the rear of the stage. Although it wasn’t completely finished, this grand stage was ready for its inaugural use during the 2019 Wright County Fair.
They had hoped to feature the completely finished stage in all its glory during the 2020 Wright County Fair, but since COVID forced a modified Fair, they decided to wait until this year. On Wednesday evening, July 7, 2021, before the crowning of the Little Miss and Mr. Wright County, and the Wright County Fair Queen, Dick, along with the Wright County Fair Board members, and Chamber Director Sara Middleton finally got the opportunity to celebrate the full completion of the James R. Johnson Fair Free Stage with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Credit was given to all the local businesses and people who took part in making this spectacular stage a reality, including a stone and plaque that recognizes Johnson for being the person who made it all possible. If you didn’t see it during the Wright County Fair, be sure to stop out at Greenwood Park and take a look at it sometime. Dick said that when Johnson was alive, he had always dreamed of having a band shell in Eagle Grove. A storm may have torn the old free stage down, but it made way for something bigger and better…and a chance to make Johnson’s dream come true.
As many of us know, this stage has already brought more opportunities to Eagle Grove. Performers took to the stage back in June to entertain the crowd during Summerfest, as did The Pork Tornadoes, who were hopefully the first of many bands to come out and draw a large crowd. Who knows what the future holds on this stage?
A little bit about James R. Johnson
Johnson was a 1946 graduate of Eagle Grove High School who became a successful electrical engineer. Although he moved away for many years to pursue his career, he eventually chose to come back to Eagle Grove and enjoy the place he always called his home and working in Wright County as a consumer engineer. When he returned, he was very generous in sharing his good fortunes making contributions to Dollars for Scholars, Our Foundation for the Future, Boy Scouts, the Senior Center, etc., before his passing.
After his death, Johnson’s generosity to the Eagle Grove community has continued through his established Charitable Trust Fund, leaving Dick as the trustee.
