Gogebic County Fair Board begins working on schedule

IRONWOOD — With the site of this year’s Gogebic County Fair confirmed at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center in Ironwood, members of the county fair board discussed admission and scheduling at their Monday evening meeting.

“It’s all tentative,” said Fair Board member Linda Nelson.

Although Fair Board members agreed that this year’s location makes an admission fee impractical, Nelson said, “I’d like to make sure that we have donation cans.”

She also said that a bundle ticket for carnival rides could be sold as $15 in advance or $20 upon arrival.

Nelson also shared with everyone a tentative schedule that she had worked out.

She said many typically run fair events likely will be at the same times as they have been in the past.

Although no activities originally had been planned for Thursday, the designated registration day, Nelson said that the carnival should be running from 4 to 10 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to include some repeated features such as chicken bingo and wood-carving demonstrations. Friday’s and Saturday’s carnival will run from noon to 10 p.m.

Friday will also include judging as usual. Activities will include a youth challenge. Flashback will perform from 8 to 10 p.m.

Saturday activities will include a tractor pedal pull, a bubble-gum blowing contest, and a livestock auction preceded by an opportunity to meet the exhibitors and their animals. Superior Horns will perform from 8 to 10 p.m., preceded by James Peace and Family.

On Sunday, the carnival will run from noon to 4 p.m. That day will include a pie auction. Animals will be released to owners at 5 p.m. on Sunday, at which time the fair also will close.

Nelson said that several food vendors already are showing interest.

“The budget I came up with is $25,000 for the entire fair,” she said.

County Administrator Juliane Giackino, acting as an interim fair coordinator, suggested typing up a formal budget of fair expenses for the county Board of Commissioners.

Nelson said that she believes the gravel parking lot directly north of the Civic Center will be large enough to hold the carnival and food vendors.

County 4-H Coordinator Ashley Dennis said that large animals such as steers can be housed in tents next to the building, and shared an illustration of how she hopes the inside of the Civic Center can be used during the fair. The drawing shows how hogs, lambs and poultry would be contained within the east side of the arena. Plastic and plywood would be placed to protect the floor.

On the west side of the space, Dennis suggested using the west side of the space for exhibits that normally would be displayed in the fairground multipurpose building.

She would like the livestock auction to occur in the middle of the arena.

No plan has not yet been confirmed by the Civic Center’s Board of Directors.

“There’s a lot of stuff that Pat O’Donnell’s board needs to OK,” said Chairman James Byrns.

Toward that end, Nelson said, “We have been communicating with the Civic Center and keeping them abreast of what’s going on.”

The Board of Trustees of Gogebic Community College already has granted permission for fair attendees to park in the college’s main parking lot, which is southwest of the Civic Center.

Fair Board members also:

—Heard Nelson suggest a chicken and spaghetti fundraiser dinner and raffle at Ironwood’s Aurora Club. Members encouraged her to check on details.

—Voted to authorize former Fair Board Coordinator Marlene Saari to prepare letters to fair sponsors.

—Heard Board member Shelley Suckow suggest requesting a donation to the fair from fair vendors.

—Pending approval by the county board, voted to authorize 4-H members and officials to use the east side of the multipurpose building to conduct a preliminary weigh-in of hogs, lambs and poultry. Steers already were weighed in January.

All votes were unanimous with James Lorenson and Holly Ramme absent.

The Fair Board’s next regular meeting will be on May 6 at 6 p.m. in the office of the fairgrounds’ multipurpose building.