WINONA, Minn. – In a capping ceremony, long-time Steamboat Days organizer Fred Benning has been christened as harbormaster for the 75th edition of the Winona festival. The ceremony was a surprise to Benning at an Eagles Club fish fry. Thirteen former former harbormasters were there. Benning first attended Steamboat Days as a kid. Later he was involved in JayCees sponsorship of the event. In 2000 Benning worked to reinvent Steamboat Days after a management fiasco led to its cancellation. Now in semi-retireent he’s a driver for Dahl Auto. This summer’s event: June 15 to 19.
Cap’n Fred. Hoisting the harbormaster cap on Benning’s head is Miss Winona, Rachel Evangelisto, and immediate past harbormaster Dean Beckman.