The Minnesota Gladiolus Society has been hosting a show in the Civic Center during the fair every year since 2009 and are happy to keep the partnership going.

“I say it every year, this is a nice facility,” Show Chairwoman Joy Clobes of the New Ulm Civic Center. Every year the gladiolus show takes up a section south arena to display the flower spikes and arrangements created by the exhibitors. This year saw 17 exhibitors, 70 arrangements and 277 individual gladiolus spikes.

Lew Wallace, President of Minnesota Gladiolus Society, said part of the reason the Civic Center hosts the gladiolus show every year is because it is climate control. The flowers need the cool air to prevent them from perishing too quickly. In addition there is plenty of space to spread out and show off the variety of flowers and arrangements. There is another reason they keep coming back to the fair.

“People actually see the exhibit here,” Society board member Margaret Harrington said.

Joy Clobes sits with her award willing gladiolus arrangement. She took grand champion in the interpretive arrangment division. This year’s theme was song titles. Her arrangement was based on the song “In the Air Tonight.”

Before partnering with the Brown County fair, the gladiolus society tried hosting the exhibit at other sites like malls, but it was not a great draw.

“Who is coming to a mall to see gladiolus,” Harrington said.

The Civic Center has proven a better draw. Its location to other fair attractions has brought in other people. The show is located next to the fair’s horticulture exhibit. Audiences for one are usually interested in another.

Harrington said people have started looking forward to the gladiolus show and will travel to attend it. There are even local people participating in the show.

“We have some first-time exhibitors from the area participating this year,” Harrington said. “They were inspired to take part in the show.”

Margaret Harrington, a member of the Minnesota Gladiolus Society board, stands next to her small basket arrangment that won a champion ribbon during the gladiolus show during the Brown County Fair. Harrington said she was fan of incorporating local follige in her arrangements.

The new local exhibitors include Anna Klinkner, Marcy Bode, Liz Bode and Sarah Schwartz. Schwartz was able to provide this year’s show with zinnia from her farm outside Sleepy Eye.

Wallace said the gladiolus show is open to anyone, not just society members. The society will even provide gladiolus spikes for exhibitors to craft arrangements.

The gladiolus arrangements displayed during the show are all created during the fair. The individual exhibitors start working at 5 p.m. Friday with a deadline of 11 a.m. Saturday. The flowers are provided by the organization, but the exhibitors must bring their own props.

The show features an individual spike competition and two arrangement competitions; one is based on a theme the other is best design without a theme. This year’s theme was song titles. There were several arrangements built around songs like “Purple Rain,” “In the Air Tonight,” “Row, row, row your boat” and “Twinkle, twinkle little star.”

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/MnGladiolusSociety.

Minnesota Gladiolus Society President Lew Wallace stands next to his award winning Decrative Arrangement that was on display in the Civic Center during the Brown County Fair. He estimated that he used around 100 gladiolus spikes to create the arrangement that towered over the audiences.