4-H kids strive to bring annual county fair to life

By P.J. GLISSON

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Ironwood — The Gogebic County Fair will run for four days, starting on Aug. 10, and many folks will visit the Ironwood site during that period.

They may not realize how many other people work behind the scenes throughout the year to make the event a success, no matter what the obstacles.

One ambitious group of contributors are members of the Gogebic County 4-H program, which is based within the Michigan State University Extension Office in Bessemer.

As part of a Monday evening work bee at the county fairgrounds, 4-H members and parents were working on a variety of projects in the area of the livestock building.

Among several residents there from Ironwood Township was Lewey Somero. “My kids are in the 4-H,” he said, referring to Jaylee, 15; Mirayah, 13; and Porter, 10.

Somero was clearing the surface of the livestock arena with a compact excavator. As he worked, he dropped the unwanted dirt and wood chips into a bin, so that other men could truck it away to use as fill at another site.

“Typically, they would haul in wood chips to freshen it up,” he said regarding recent years.

This time, he said the arena needs “a full overhaul.”

Hence, he explained, “We’re going to replace the arena with sand and a good, solid base.”

Meanwhile, cleaning up the ground outside of the arena fence line were Judy Balchik, one of the adults who leads the Market Animal Club, and Trentyn Coponen, 11.

Balchik said the kids and adults work at the fairgrounds “every Monday all summer long.”

Inside of the livestock building was 4-H Program Coordinator Ashley Dennis, leading a group of kids in preparing animal shelters.

“The kids are building lamb stalls,” said Dennis. “They have to build new pens.”

She explained that the fair featured two lambs last year, whereas four are expected this year.

Somero’s daughter, Jaylee, was constructing one pen while Isaak Fyle, 17, was repairing a poultry cage.

The enthusiasm was rampant despite the fact that county and fair officials have been challenged by numerous issues regarding fairground structures that need either repair or replacement.

Monday night’s gang made it clear that nothing will get in their way from producing this year’s long weekend of family fun.