Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Gogebic County Fair kicks off

By BRYAN HELLIOS

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Ironwood - Animals and exhibits were brought into the Gogebic County Fairgrounds on Thursday as vendors set up to prepare for the fair.

Jim Lorenson, fair board president, said the weather is beautiful for set up day for the fair.

"Nice moderate temperatures," he said. "Thats the forecast for the next few days."

The carnival and rides were close to being set up and Lorenson said they would be open later in the evening.

"It's a great day to start the fair," he said.

Cheryl Olsen, member of the Northern Lights Quilting Guild, helped set up the club's booth. Quilting requires a lot of steps to produce a finished product, she said, as she described the intricate pattern of the quilt's log cabin design.

Measuring 100 inches by 80 inches, the quilt sewn by Susan Kangas, is available to win by a raffle with the money raised going to the fair, Olsen said.

The club makes quilts for cancer patients as well as medical gear covers to help people better cope with their situation, she said.

"We have found there's need in our community," she said.

Bill Erickson entered an antique chess set that he received from his grandmother. The detailed chess pieces are made out of ivory and was purchased in Japan, he explained. To qualify as an antique the item must be 50 years old or older. Also, items are not allowed to be entered if exhibited within the last three fairs.

"They've (the fair) had some fairly interesting local stuff," he said, as he looked over some pieces of art he created.

The fair's midway was filled with vendors selling food items and organizations promoting their message.

Trooper Jerry Mazurek of the Michigan State Patrol handed out free gun locks to fair goers.

"A lot of people like to hunt and shoot guns and this is a way that we can get folks to be mindful and safe with their guns," he said, adding the lock works with different guns depending on the gun's action.

Mazurek said one of MSP goals for this weekend is to promote safety at the fair and elsewhere.

The MSP's booth is next to an all terrain vehicle vendor and Mazurek said he is happy to answer any questions about how to register them and what license is needed to operate an ATV.

Lorenson said the fair is a success because the broader community comes together to pitch in and help.

"As soon as this fair is over, we'll critique it and begin planning for next year's fair," he said. "... One of the best parts about the fair is the one time a year you can eat food that you're probably not supposed to."

 
 
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