Dave Lorenz and his family love the fair. When looking for ways to celebrate the family’s memories at the State Fair, and honor the memory of their youngest daughter, the Minnesota State Fair Foundation’s recognition bench program was a perfect fit.
How long have you been involved with the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation?
Well, 2021 was our first year supporting the Foundation, but our love for the fair goes back to when Diane and I were just kids. When I was a kid going way back now, I remember my parents would take us to the fair. We’ve been going probably for more than 60 years.
But the fair meant a lot more to us when we had our own family, our two daughters. They loved going to the fair, visiting the animal barns and seeing all the animals, going on rides and watching concerts.
What are some of your happiest moments at the fair?
When I was a senior in high school, I was a drum major in the marching band. We got to participate in the Minnesota State Fair parade competition. They gave prizes for first place, second place, and third place. My school took first place, and I remember being up on the stage accepting the trophy in 1972.
Our daughters were involved in the academic excellence program where teachers would nominate kids in the elementary schools who were outstanding students. They would be honored with a t-shirt and a little bag of goodies at the state fair. And both of our daughters were recipients for several years. We would show up early in the morning, get the bags, and then do the fair.
Diane and the girls always liked to go to the art exhibits and we’d always go through the dog house (now it’s the Pet Pavilions); they’d love playing there and seeing the dogs.
We love the fair. We sometimes go several times. Just love it, love the food, love the atmosphere and I love staying to the end when you can go to a concert and come out and see everything lit up.
Your first gift to the Foundation was a recognition bench. How did you hear about the Foundation and the recognition bench program?
We’ve been considering getting a bench for years. Our youngest daughter had passed away at age 16 in a car accident, it’ll be 17 years ago this October.
So we were looking for things to honor her, to remember her by, and she loved the fair. We knew about this program, and we just thought, ‘wouldn’t this be a nice way to remember Kristin and our whole family?’
It was wonderful to donate a bench because it’s such high quality. I remember sitting on those old rickety wooden benches for many years and there probably would be four benches in an area with 400 people looking to sit down. Now there are so many benches to choose from when you need a place to sit. They’re more comfortable and nicer.
But it’s also the idea that you can support something that represents Minnesota and showcases Minnesota to other folks. And we hope it is something we can visit for years and continue to support the Foundation.
How did you feel when you came to the fairgrounds and saw that memorial bench with that name on the back?
It meant a lot. We still tear up thinking about it. This bench had a big impact on our family.
But there’s more than just Diane and I and our daughter. You wouldn’t believe all the comments and messages we received about the bench. We posted on the Facebook remembrance page we created for our daughter Kristin. We shared on our Facebook profiles. We had so many people, I bet you 50, 60 people that commented that this was a nice remembrance of not only our daughter but our family.
So it wasn’t just meaningful for our family, but especially for family members and friends of our daughter. It wasn’t just us remembering. It’s unbelievable that the people who responded looked for the bench, sat down, took a picture, and then sent it to us. It meant a lot to them too.
Why do you continue to support the Foundation?
Well, like I said, we wanted to remember our daughter and our family, and the bench and brick programs were an excellent way of doing that and it’ll be on the fairgrounds for a long time. People that will see the bench or bricks can remember our daughter. Everyone who knows us knows that we really liked the fair and enjoyed the fair as a family.
These programs through the Foundation help us celebrate Minnesota and family, and that’s why I enjoy giving.
What do you think other people should know about giving to the State Fair through the Foundation?
This was a way that we could help support Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fair. And we want to do that.
We’ve enjoyed learning about all the ways the Foundation supports the fair. The things that you’re doing are great to keep the tradition and fun.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell me today?
We were born and raised in Minnesota. Supporting the fair through the Foundation is a way to show our gratitude for the memories and traditions we’ve made at the fair. We’re proud to be Minnesotans.
The Minnesota State Fair is far-reaching- and it’s an event many desire to come to. Our daughter and her husband are coming from Portland, Oregon, and it will be the first time that he’ll be at the fair. Our daughter flies home just to go to the fair every year. My sister-in-law and niece are coming from Detroit to see their bricks and join us at the fair. So we’ve got coming family from Portland and Michigan and Minnesota getting together just for the fair. So that’s a pretty neat thing to share together.