Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
NICHOLAS WALESEWICZ, 6, of South Carey, offers water to his rabbits at the Iron County Fair in Saxon, Wis., on Friday evening. His buddy, Nathan Rozelle, is at left.
CHILDREN ENJOY a ride under a colorful carnival canopy at the Iron County Fair in Saxon, Wis., on Friday.
SAXON, Wis. - Nicholas Walesewicz was keeping a close watch on his rabbits as the 84th Iron County Fair opened Friday at Saxon.
Ideal weather greeted fair-goers as the crowd grew around 6 p.m., while some exhibits were still being entered.
Fair board president Tom Salzmann, of Saxon, said while cattle entries were down, the number of 4-H animals appeared to be up, including market hogs.
The 4-H animal auction is scheduled for 6 tonight in the livestock ring near the cattle barns.
In the poultry-small animal building, Walesewicz, 6, of South Carey, was tending to his three rabbits.
He has raised them with his sister, Susan, and the sign on the cage boldly proclaims, "S and N's Rascally Rabbit Ranch."
In the horse barn, the animals wore colorful blankets in between shows at the expansive horse arena. The shows continue throughout the weekend. Some prom dresses are not as fancy as the horses' attire.
Numerous tractors were lined up near the crops building in preparation for the Sunday antique equipment-tractor show, from noon to 4 p.m.
The seats on carnival rides were mostly full around 7 p.m., while the musical entertainment was being provided by the Whitehouse Players, one of many groups scheduled to perform.
Marty's Goldenaires drum and bugle corps was set to march through the fairgrounds at 1 p.m. today.
For the second consecutive year, the 4-H exhibits were judged before the fair, so there were plenty of ribbons displayed Friday in the old Saxon gymnasium, which serves as the 4-H exhibit building.
Iron County youth agent Neil Klemme said the early judging was continued this year because, "It went really well last year." He explained it allows for the judges to sit down with 4-Hers and discuss highlights and flaws in their projects one-on-one.
Today's entertainment also includes the return of the Dweebs, a popular family singing group, at 7 p.m., and the afternoon All-Terrain Vehicle and Red Clay Classic in front of the grandstands.
On Sunday, the horse pulling competition begins at 1:30 p.m.
The popular 4-H pie auction is set for 3 p.m. Sunday and the fair will conclude that evening with the Lowell Street Band performing under the pavilion.
The fair usually attracts more than 5,000 visitors and in excess of 300 exhibitors.
