Through grant funding there will be new historical demonstrations at the Freeborn County Fair this year.

Fair Manager Norm Fredin said the fair received $15,000 from the County Fair Arts Access & Cultural Heritage Grant, which is part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. It must all be used in 2012.

“It has to be used for arts and culture,” Fredin said.

As far as arts, the fair is making improvements to the Arts & Crafts Building that include installing track lighting and spotlights to shine more light on installments, painting the ceiling and the purchase of new display cases.

For culture, there will be new demonstrations and programming. One new feature will be Bruce Langseth, who will build an entire log cabin during the week of the fair. People will be able to sign up to help and get hands-on learning. Perry Vining, founder of the Big Island Rendezvous, helped plan some of the historical programming and said the log cabin demonstration will be a sight to see.

“I know it takes 75 logs to make it,” Vining said.

Other new programming includes a couple who play Ben Franklin and his wife, Deborah.

There will also be programs by the New Ulm Battery, who frequent the Big Island Rendezvous in the fall. Other new programming includes demonstrations of antique fabric block printing.

The fair starts Tuesday, July 31, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 5, at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. The fair’s website is www.freeborncountyfair.com.