SAXON, Wis. -- The 81st Iron County Fair is almost here.

What started out as a community fair in the early 1920s, became a county fair in 1927. Since then, county volunteers, agricultural agents and 4-H Club members have worked hard to make it into the fair that it is today.

Several building projects throughout the years have also enhanced the three-day event.

Planning for the fair started about two weeks after last year's fair, and fair board members have been volunteering to make it fun and educational for everyone involved.

"The thing that impresses me most is the people who volunteer from within the county," said fair board chairman Tom Salzmann earlier this month. "Everyone has a job to do."

Thursday

--The 4-H youth horse show entries are due from 6-8 p.m., Thursday. Also, the beef judging deadline is at 6-8 p.m.

--Exhibitors can bring in their entries from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

Friday

The 4-H youth horse show begins at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the horse arena. 4-H Club members will also have a chance to display their year's efforts at the beef judging at 2 p.m.

Hungry fair goers can once expect the Lions Club fish boil to take place from 5-6:30 p.m. Johnny Trash will be providing the music from 5-9 p.m. The model airplane show is at 5:30 p.m.

The official fair opening and flag raising begins at 6 p.m., Friday at the west end of the exhibit building. The Fireman's Tournament begins at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

The open horse show is the first event of the day Saturday, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The 4-H silent auction begins at 9 a.m. The event takes place all day at the youth building. The dairy judging begins at 9:30 a.m.

A new event, the Sheer's Lumberjack Show, begins at 10 a.m., with events also at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.  Agricultural judging begins in the crop building at 10 a.m.

Sports are a big part of the fair. The volleyball tournament begins at 10 a.m., as does the men's slow pitch softball tournament.

Always a popular event, the kiddie tractor pull registration begins at 11 a.m. in the fair secretary's office. The tractor pull is at noon. For older riders, the ATV and Red Clay Classic Mud Run begins at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event starts at 2 p.m.

For the kids, Earl's Rides Carnival begins at noon to 10 p.m. at the fairgrounds midway, and from noon-7 p.m. Sunday. Marty's Goldenaires from Bessemer perform at 1 p.m.

Both swine and sheep judging begin at 1 p.m. A long-time tradition, the horseshoe tournament begins at 1 p.m. and lasts all day Saturday and Sunday.

Music lovers will appreciate the polka sounds of Richie Yurkovich and Polkamania at the pavilion, from 2-4 p.m. Followed by the music will be the presentation of the Senior Citizen King and Queen also at the pavilion.

The 4-H livestock auction begins at 6 p.m. at the livestock ring.

Johnny Trash returns for another night of tunes at the pavilion from 6-10 p.m.

Sunday

Horse game day begins at 9 a.m. at the horse arena. The 4-H silent auction is from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in the youth building The men's slow pitch softball tournament begins at 10 a.m.

An ecumenical church service is from 11 a.m.-noon in the Vern Downey Building.

At noon, the cow miking contest begins. From noon- 4 p.m. the antique tractor, equipment show and the drag saw demo takes place. The Good Tyme Band performs from noon-2:30 p.m.

The Gogebic County K-9 Unit will put on a demonstration at 1 p.m. Action exhibits begin at 1:30 p.m. in the youth building. A draft horse pulling begins at 1:30 p.m. in the grand stand, with a Sherr's Lumberjack show to follow.

The 4-H pie auction is from 3-4 p.m. at the pavilion. A demolition derby begins at 4:30 p.m. At 5 p.m., the 50/50 drawing takes place at the pavilion.

Music by Tommy Warren ends the day at the pavilion from 5-8 p.m.