DECORAH, Iowa — Somebody on the board that runs the Winneshiek County Fair has some explaining to do. The Board booked the rough denim band Confederate Railroad as the Fair’s mainline entertainment. As soon as word of the choice got out, so did a community uproar. Almost 100 people objected online to the band’s name and logo as evoking hatred and racism and unsuitable for a decent place like heavily Lutheran Decorah. Students at Luther College launched a petition against Confederate Railroad. Quickly they had 200 signatures. Apparently nobody on the Fair Board checked Confederate Railroad’s history.  The Georgia-based band has been cancelled time and again on summer fair circuits — or passed over in the screening process. The rub: The homage being paid to the Confederacy with band’s Stars and Bars logo and also the hard-charging locomotive as symbol for trains that shipped troops and military supplies to battles to retain slavery. A religion professor at Luther College, Guy Nave, a leader against the band coming to the Decorah fair, called on the Winneshiek County Fair Board to explain itself. The Board appears to have two choices:

> Go ahead with Confederate Railroad, as well as with country singers Kayley Green and Travis Denning, who were contracted separately.

> Cancel the Confederate Railroad contract and — lesons learned  forfeit the performance fee, thought to be $30,000.

Back story. The band’s co-founder, Danny Shirley, explains the Confederate Railroad name and logo as representations of history and og a proud Southern heritage. Critics see a racist symbol, that promotes slavery, racial segregation, sedition and treason.

Band profile

Formed in 1987 as a back-up band for outlaw country singers David Allen Coe and Johnny Paycheck. The group’s first albums went platinum in 1992 and 1994. The band was awarded the Best New Group Award n 1993 by the American Country Music Association.

Discography

1992: “Confederate Railroad”

1994: “Notorious”

1996: “When and Where”

1998: “Keep on Rockin’”

2001: “Unleashed”

2007: “Cheap Thrills”

2016: “Lucky to Be Alive”