by Amanda Rink, Editor
When the rides get moving and the smell of funnel cakes fills the air, the Wright County Fair feels officially underway.
As in past years, this year’s carnival is brought to the Wright County Fairgrounds by Scott Amusements, a family-operated company based near Pilot Mound. The business is run by brothers Rob and Russ Scott, who both grew up in Palmer, Iowa.
As teens, they spent summers working for traveling carnivals and eventually decided to turn that experience into something long-term. In 2019, after years working in grocery, catering, vendor supply, and the restaurant industry, they launched Scott Amusements.
Operating from Rob and his wife Lorna’s farm, the company has grown quickly. Demand now exceeds what most Iowa-based carnivals can provide, so the family has added a second traveling unit. Rob’s son, Bryce, is now a co-owner, and Lorna manages the office.
The Scotts are a 4-H family, with four generations of involvement. In 2022, Rob and Lorna were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. They’ve raised seven children and have two granddaughters. Russ has a son, a daughter-in-law, and a young grandson.
The company’s work was recognized last December when Scott Amusements was named “Showmen of the Year” by the Association of Iowa Fairs. Rob supervises ride setup and maintenance, while Russ focuses on the layout of the midway and oversees the food and game trailers.
At the Wright County Fair, the setup is clean and well-organized. The carnival offers a range of attractions that fairgoers look forward to each year, like the Dizzy Dragons and the Loop O Plane, along with smaller rides for younger kids, such as the fire truck ride. There is a range of games to try your luck at, too.
The Funnel Cake Trailer is always a popular stop, offering curly fries, corn dogs, lemonade, and, of course, funnel cakes. Scott Amusements may be a relatively young company, but its presence at the Wright County Fair is starting to feel like a tradition for many attendees.
