Danyl Vavreck, MN State Fair Foundation staff, says, “Dale is an amazingly well-rounded Foundation donor who has tapped just about everything we do. My story with Dale starts in the summer of 2018 when I met him at the J.V. Bailey House during the Minnesota State Fair and learned that he had put the fair in his will quite some time before. I was intrigued by this generous gesture and needed to know more.“
Some of Dale Raduenz’s earliest memories are during his time at the Minnesota State Fair. His family was from Vesta in Redwood County, a long drive stretching approximately 135 miles from the Twin Cities. So, having a grandmother who lived right on Roselawn Avenue in Roseville, and parents who loved driving up to the fair was—in his mind—the best a young boy could hope for, “We could even see the fireworks from Grandma’s front yard!” During those youngest of years, a warm crinkly bag of sugary Tom Thumb donuts were Dale’s favorite—and a cavernous cruise through the Ye Old Mill was the absolute definition of exciting. As he grew older, the thrill of a visit to the Grandstand with his high school friends to see the racing stock cars was the main attraction.
Dale left Minnesota after graduating from college. It took him almost 20 years, but he eventually found his way back to his northern home state. “It was then that I decided to make the Minnesota State Fair a more permanent part of my life. I began by amending my will to include a bequest to the Fair’s General Endowment Fund, and by joining the Foundation’s 1854 Society. The Endowment Fund ensured that my gift would continue to contribute in perpetuity.” Like most people, Dale remembers a short time in his life while living paycheck to paycheck. “Surviving without a safety net can be a real challenge, and an endowment can help keep the future of our State Fair secure.”
With the estate gift set, Dale was ready to take on more at the Foundation and learn about the ins and outs of our beloved fair. He became an annual Grand Champion donor, giving him access to several behind-the-scenes events each year, including tours of buildings (the 100-year-old Cattle Barn, the new North End Event Center, and the fair’s Greenhouse); learning about staff duties (booking State Fair entertainment and how ticket takers work); and hearing from experts on State Fair gems (Princess Kay, Amateur Talent Contest, Crop Art competitions), and so much more. Dale treasures the opportunity to get together with other State Fair stewards at these events throughout the year to learn more about the operations of the fair while making an additional contribution.
Dale has since retired, but not from finding even more ways to give back to the fair. He volunteers with the Foundation for a couple of days each year. “I like selling Blue Ribbon Bargain Books because it gives me the chance to greet and interact with other fair fans as they enter the fairgrounds.” Dale also has an incredible eye for photography and has spent many fair days (sometimes all 12!) taking photos for use in the Foundation’s publications and website.
Most recently Dale gave a very personal and special gift to the fair. “A cousin of mine who recently passed away was a registered nurse, and for 20 years was on duty at the First Aid Station in the 4-H Building on the fairgrounds. I could think of no better way to honor her memory than to make a memorial contribution to an endowment fund that had been set up to take care of the iconic 4-H Building.” Dale knew that even though another donor had set up this particular endowment, he can contribute to this fund to help a cause he believes in. And once again, his endowment gift will continue to pay out each year, and will continue Dale’s wish to forever support the Great Minnesota Get-Together.