Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Gary Oja, left, Tia Oja, 8, and Jase Collura, 5, enjoy the first run of the ferris wheel after the Midway opened Friday at the Iron County Fair in Saxon, Wisconsin.
By TOM LAVENTURE
SAXON, Wis. - The midway wasn't officially open until 6 p.m. Friday, but that didn't stop hundreds of people from coming early to play games, eat food and listen to music at the Iron County Fair.
"I really like the fair," said Tate Guenard, 19, of Hurley, who sang the national anthem to open the Iron County Fair. "It's a community happening that brings people together, and makes money for 4-H and the area farms."
Guenard has been a singer his entire life and sang the national anthem at area football and basketball games. When he was asked to open the fair he said it was an honor to sing as an American Legion color guard conducted the flag ceremony with Saxon Post 371 members Leonard Melander, Robert Peterson, Denny Smith and Rickie Holm.
"The fair is just a good thing and so to open for it I have a lot of respect," Guenard said.
Charlene Kalla, of Ironwood, submitted photos into the open class event Friday. She's been submitting her outdoor photography of the Gogebic County and Iron County area for the past six years.
"Photography is my hobby," Kalla said. "It's a growing hobby and I enjoy it."
Submitting photos is a way to support the fair, she said. It's a fun competition with people getting together and displaying their hobbies and their passions, she said.
Iron County Fair volunteers Liz Mullard and Jean Peltomen registered the open class submissions. The two said it's about getting out and supporting the community.
"I come back from Appleton to do this," Mullard said.
Heidi Mondloch, New Glarus, is a Hurley native who also comes back to help out at the fair with the open class exhibits. She organizes the open class exhibits for both youth and adult categories.
"We have a lot of great entries this year," Mondloch said.
The open class helps people to connect with their fair by exhibiting individual talents, she said. Then other people can come and see what friends and neighbors are doing, she said.
Marlene Holden, an Iron Belt hobby farmer, said she's been coming to the fair for 16 years. She likes to show her chickens, horses, donkey and geese.
"We pull in on Thursday and stay here and camp," Holden said. "There's people I only see this time of year so it's nice to catch up with them and visit."
Visiting is great and so is talking shop with the other farmers and working to educate kids and adults who don't have exposure to livestock except for the fair, she said.
"We share stuff and we learn," she said. "That is what's so nice about this."
Tracey Leiphart and Kevin Benner, volunteer parents at the Northwoods Christian Academy food booth, said the church and school have been selling food at the fair for over 20 years. There are two other fundraising events during the year but nothing compares to the fair, Benner said.
"The fair is the bread and butter of the fundraising events," Benner said. "It's also great to see all of the people we know. It's a blast and we get to work together as a church group."
