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SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Fairground turnaround crashed with embezzling scandal

This week in South Dakota history: June 27 - July 3

Dan Gehlsen's avatar
Dan Gehlsen
Jul 02, 2025
∙ Paid
Sioux Empire Fair grandstand and racetrack, 1949. Photo: Argus Leader

When Christina Aguilera sang "Genie in a Bottle" at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds 25 years ago this week on July 2, 2000, fans were experiencing the renovated grandstand for the first time.

The renovations resulted in increased grandstand capacity, and fair officials hoped the changes would result in higher revenues.

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