KIMBALL, Wis. -- In 1970, Paul, Lisa and Cindy Henning rode their ponies seven miles from their parents' Kimball farm to the Iron County Fair.

They didn't have trailers that first year they participated in the fair at Saxon.

"I remember one year having an old 8-track player strapped to my hip as we rode out there," said Lisa, who was about 7 the first year. "We listened and sang to Glen Campbell's 'Rhinestone Cowboy' all the way there."

They were a family that showed horses.

She and her siblings slept in sleeping bags on the floor of the old horse barn at the fair where enormous work horses were housed -- all three nights.

They got hooked on the fair and haven't stopped going as long as they've lived here. They graduated from ponies to horses, although they didn't have trailers until sometime in the 1980s.

When Cindy (Henning) Waldros and Lisa (Henning) Waldros (the Henning sisters married Waldros brothers) grew up, they passed their love of horses, shows and fairs on to the next generation.

That's not all. They've been instrumental in keeping and building the horse program by participating as 4-H leaders and Iron County Fair Association Board and committee members.

When Cindy Waldros of Saxon joined the board nearly 20 years ago, only one little girl was registered to show her horse that year.

"This is the biggest year yet, number-wise," said Lisa Waldros. We've got 25 horses registered ... and that's just the youth (18 and younger)."

"We have such a unique fair in that it's so family oriented. I've heard from people over and over compliments on how the Iron County Fair has maintained its family atmosphere," said Waldros.

Her husband, Dean Waldros, agrees.

"This fair is really a nice fair; there's no riff-raff. I think it's a clean and safe fair. It's the country -- it isn't a corner hangout spot. The people who come really want to be involved or be there," he said.

All In The Family

Lisa Waldros used to run the horse barn while Cindy Waldros was on the board. In 2003, they switched roles.

Lisa's younger daughter Lynda, 11, will show her horse this weekend. Their nephew, Colt Tijan, 9, will compete in the horse games Sunday.

Their younger sisters, Teresa "T.C." (Henning) Ahles and Crystal (Henning) Schutz grew up showing horses as well. Both of their children have shown or still show horses. Schutz is the fair board secretary.

Mike Henning Jr., the younger of the Henning brothers, grew up showing horses, pigs, cows and poultry. His three children still participate. The younger two, Kacey, 10, and Kodey, 6, will show horses on Friday and Sunday.

Though Paul no longer participates, he rarely misses an opportunity to watch his nieces and nephews at the fair.

Mike Sr. and Lynda Henning, of Kimball, are the parents of the five Henning siblings. Mike used to saddle race in the 1970s when there was an old horse track at the fair.

"If it wasn't for mom getting us going, none of this would've ever happened," Lisa Waldros said.

Grandfather Paul Henning, 89, also of Kimball, still shows his antique cars every year.

Aunt and uncle, Carol and John "Arizona" Brinnington of Kimball are also involved. Carol is on the fair board and in charge of the women's building.

Arizona runs the produce building.

The Henning siblings have 28 horses and 11 children (six are showing horses this weekend).

Better Than Christmas

Lynda Waldros said the fair is better than Christmas.

"You get to show off your work and go on rides and watch the horse pull," she said.

"And watch the mud runs, if you're a boy!" said Colt Tijan.

The kids will spend at least one night at the fair, in sleeping bags in empty stalls.

The adults work with the kids year-round on horse grooming and training.

"It's not the blue ribbon, something so much deeper when the kids connect with an animal," said Lisa Waldros.

"It's a great place for kids to express themselves. When we were kids at the fair, we didn't dare get in trouble or there'd be no next year. It's a freedom. We were country kids; we were never loose in town. The fair is an extended freedom of what we did every day on the farm. When we got to the fair it was a chance to show off a little of what we worked so hard at every day."

She also said the fair is a chance for the adults in the family to take the kids under their wings. It's a chance to learn responsibility for their horses and their siblings in a bigger atmosphere.

They learn how to be respectful, and how to represent themselves in a social environment.

"We correlate the fair with the Christmas holiday because there is such a big gift in the enjoyment. There's family, there's sharing," Waldros said.

Today

--6-8 p.m., 4-H youth horse show entries deadline.

--6-8 p.m., beef judging entries deadline.

Friday

--9 a.m.-8 p.m., exhibits accepted.

--9 a.m.-3 p.m., 4-H youth horse show, horse arena.

--Noon-10 p.m., Earl's Rides carnival, fairgrounds midway.

--2 p.m., beef judging.

--5-6:30 p.m., Lion's Club fish boil.

--5-9 p.m., music by Johnny Trash, pavilion.

--5:30 p.m., model airplane show.

--6 p.m., fair opening and flag raising, commercial and exhibit building west end.

--6:30 p.m., Firemen's Tournament.

Saturday

--8:30 a.m., open horse show, horse arena.

--9 a.m., 4-H silent auction, youth building, all day.

--9 a.m., exhibit judging begins.

--9:30 a.m., dairy judging begins.

--10 a.m., Sheer's Lumberjack Show.

--10 a.m., judging begins in crop building.

--10 a.m., volleyball tournament.

--10 a.m., men's slow pitch softball tournament.

--11 a.m., registration begins for kiddie tractor pull, secretary's office.

--11 a.m.-1 p.m., registration for ATV and Red Clay Classic, grand stand.

--Noon-10 p.m., Earl's Rides Carnival, fairgrounds midway.

--Noon, kiddie tractor pull, pavilion.

--1 p.m., Sheer's Lumberjack Show.

--1 p.m., Marty's Goldenaires.

--1 p.m., swine judging, livestock ring.

--1 p.m., sheep judging, livestock ring.

--1 p.m., horseshoe tournament, all day.

--2 p.m., ATV and Red Clay Classic Mud Run, grand stand.

--2-4 p.m., polka music by Richie Yurkovich and Polkamania, pavilion.

--5 p.m., presentation of Senior Citizen King and Queen, pavilion.

--5:30 p.m., Sheer's Lumberjack Show.

--6 p.m., 4-H livestock auction, livestock ring.

--6-10 p.m., music by Johnny Trash, pavilion.

Sunday

--9 a.m., horse game day, horse arena.

--9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 4-H silent auction, youth building.

--10 a.m., men's slow pitch softball tournament.

--10 a.m., Sheer's Lumberjack Show.

--11 a.m.-noon, Ecumenical church service, Vern Downey Building.

--Noon-7 p.m., Earl's Rides carnival, fairgrounds midway.

--Noon, cow milking contest.

--Noon-4 p.m., antique tractor and equipment show and drag saw demo.

--Noon-2:30 p.m., music by Good Tyme Band.

--1 p.m., horseshoe tournament, all day.

--1 p.m., Gogebic County K-9 Unit demonstration.

--1:30 p.m., action exhibits, youth building.

--1:30 p.m., draft horse pulling contest, grand stand (Sheer's Lumberjack Show to follow).

--3-4 p.m., 4-H pie auction, pavilion.

--4:30 p.m., demolition derby.

--5 p.m., 50/50 raffle drawing, pavilion.

--5-8 p.m., music by Tommy Warren, pavilion.

--6 p.m., livestock exhibits released.

--7:30 p.m., all other exhibits released.