Civil Municipal - April 2024

always in the top five of state corn production as well,” explains Koppen. “That’s how those pigs get fed. So, we’re a really big agricultural economy.” The average pig consumes about three to five pounds of corn-based feed per day, so you can imagine the quantities of crops Martin County farmers are dealing with. On top of stable corn production, Fairmont is a stalwart in the soybean industry.The town successfully recruited a major soybean processing plant to set up shop off Highway I-90. That plant has expanded over the last few years, Koppen says. Fairmont has also attracted other agriculture-adjacent industries, from ethanol plants and agricultural chemical companies to industrial manufacturers like 3M, which has set up a plant that’s brought jobs to Fairmont. For many reasons, Fairmont sits atop the local agricultural pedestal. And with such status, Martin County puts on an elaborate annual county fair. At this event, folks can celebrate the area’s rich agricultural history with musical entertainment, races, midways, livestock shows, cook-offs, and all kinds of rural ruckus. “[The fair] draws people from all over,” says Koppen. “It’s just widely attended. It’s a really big deal in our community every summer from early- to mid-August.” When it comes to Fairmont’s tourism sector, the county fair is only part of a much larger picture. A PEACEFUL TOURIST DESTINATION As Koppen points out, Fairmont’s proximity to the interstate provides a steady churn of intentional tourists and non-intentional tourists that just happen upon some of the town’s attractions. Fairmont’s green space is breathtaking. There are 27 public parks conveniently placed around the sprawling chain of lakes, which is the real draw come summertime. “If you looked at us on the map and zoomed in a little bit, you would really get a feel for what a nice amenity having the chain of five lakes right in our town is,” says Koppen. “That’s a big draw. And when 82 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 04