Sunny days shine on Ontonagon County Fair

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

GREENLAND — The Ontonagon County Fair was blessed with good weather and high times this past weekend.

After a Friday registration day in Greenland, the fair kicked in to provide a large variety of activities for people of all interests.

Saturday included cattle-sorting, a trout pond, a livestock clinic, a mock rodeo, and live music by Jack Jolliff and Bosch 9, along with games, crafts and vendors.

Sunday began with a horse show that was expected to continue throughout the day with various divisions.

“We thank you for our ability to do something we love,” said Bethany Jolliff in a prayer that accompanied the flag-bearing ceremony and the national anthem.

The horses featured during the show came in many colors, types and personalities, which seemed to be well understood by the riders handling them.

“I held her back ‘cause their arena is a lot stickier than ours,” said Brook Essenberg of Merrill, Wisconsin. She was referring to her horse, Joe, who helped her to come in second in the senior division in barrel racing with a time of 19 seconds.

Essenberg said her horse is used to running on sand, whereas the Greenland ring was a clay-based mix.

At the time she spoke with the Globe, she was resting with her friend, Lexi Elsholtz, also of Merrill, who took first in the junior class at 21 seconds.

Speed is not always the point, as trainer Michelle Gall of Calumet pointed out.

The trainer explained that for Rossa Pilota, a mare ridden by Grace Pelota on Sunday, was to “get her used to the ring.” As such, Peltola patiently guided the horse — with a taupe coat and shaggy feet — in a simple saunter around the barrels with no pressure to run.

“She did really well,” said Gall.

Other more experienced horses raced around the ring, dipping around the barrels with calculated skill.

That was made easier by regular tractor drags of the soil done by Ben Dehaan of Mass City.

Among many loved ones rooting on the sidelines for friends and family members was Aaron Hokans of Ontonagon. His daughter, Aylie Hokans, who will be 11 next month, was competing in the junior division.

“She loves riding her horses,” he said. “It’s one of her big loves, for sure.”

Also on Sunday morning, a tractor-pulling contest drew contestants from long distances, including Mike Secord, and his nephew, Hunter Secord, both of Bessemer, and Phil Zelinski of Watersmeet and Rob Dryer of Ashland, Wisconsin, among many others.

Dryer is president of the Michigan-Wisconsin Antique Power Association, and Zelinski is vice president.

Also featured at the fair throughout the weekend were various farm animals such as goats, donkeys, miniature horses and bunnies.

The exhibition building also included a variety of displays, including artwork, photography and flowers.