Fair draws good crowds

SAXON, Wis. - The Iron County Fair drew in a large number of people Saturday and Sunday under sunny skies.

On Saturday afternoon, the Rice Bulls and Barrels Shock and Awe rodeo tour drew a good-sized crowd, as the stands and area around the horse arena were packed. People gathered around the fences and up on the hill to take in the exciting event which featured several bull riders as well as entertainment in between the rides.

The crowd particularly enjoyed one bull, Crazy Eyes, who decided he didn't want to co-operate and wouldn't leave the arena.

Earlier in the day there was a horse show, as well as dairy judging, a volleyball tournament, a doubles pool tournament, an antique tractor pull and the Red Clay Classic Mud Truck Races.

The tractor pull featured more than a dozen antique tractors. The tractors were divided into different classes based on their weight. Each tractor hooked up to a sled with other tractors on it to add weight. The idea was to see how far they could pull the load down the track, while people jumped on at intervals to add even more weight as they went.

After the tractor pull, fairgoers were treated to a flag raising and concert by Marty's Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps.

The rides and games of the midway were popular all weekend long.

The mud races featured 40 different trucks split into six different classes and included anything from old Ford Rangers to Jeeps.

The annual 4-H livestock auction also drew a crowd, Saturday. And there was plenty of music at the fair including a concerts by Finn Power in the afternoon and Raised Reckless into the evening.

Sunday, the last day of the fair, was quieter, but there were many smiles.

At the horse arena, local riders participated in a game day, including barrel racing and a speed and action competition, in which a horse starts in a large square, runs around a barrel and comes back. The horse had to stop in the square and stay there for 5 seconds. The quickest time won.

Antique tractors and equipment were on display all afternoon. At one point, folks fired up their tractors and rode around the fairgrounds for a parade.

Over at the grandstand, people watched the draft horse pulling contest. The horses competed in groups of two - medium weight and heavy weight classes. Seven team competed in the event.

With all their might, the draft horses pulled cinder blocks of increasing weight a distance of 27 and a half feet.

Over at the pavilion, the Iron County 4-H program held its annual pie auction. Twenty-eight pies were sold, each to the highest bidder. In the end, $5,128 was raised to benefit the 4-H program.