Fairs in full swing across the U.P.

What's happening: It’s fair season in the Upper Peninsula, with communities hosting multi-day festivals promoting agricultural, culinary, mechanical and cultural opportunities. Over a quarter million fairgoers across the region will celebrate the work of local residents in food challenges, animal auctions, preservation exhibits and more, highlighting the strength of the area's food production and sustainability efforts. While fairs range in size and activities, local and regional vendors use the event as a way to expand their products and services.

Culture cross-section: Agriculture has always been an integral part of the U.P. economy and culture, keeping many resources local through farming, harvesting and fishing. But as the region has shifted to tourism, education and tech, fairs often provide the only way to highlight agricultural efforts to urban and suburban residents. The fairs also provide a way to see various types of organizational structure: Students from colleges to homeschooling, non-profits and political organizations displaying next to the area's largest employers, at-home bakers and subsistence farmers head-to-head with major food producers. The county fair puts them all on display to showcase the economic and functional diversity of the U.P.  

What they're saying: “I think it's very important as we see the change in our agricultural industry, there’s just so many people now that are so far removed from agriculture and what it takes to raise an animal, and it's just wonderful to show folks what it does take and how much effort goes into it,” said Alger County Fair Board President Paul Naasz. “From a youth standpoint, the responsibility that's required to do that is what builds our future leaders. It's about the skills development, the personal development, just getting out in front of people — it’s a great experience for those individuals. The work ethic developed through it is also phenomenal, and it is very important for these young individuals to experience that.”

What's next: The Marquette County Fair and Gogebic County Fair kick off this week at their respective fairgrounds in the western and central U.P. The U.P. State Fair in Escanaba will be held August 11-17, featuring additional events that create competition and recognition for veterans, farmers and athletes alike. The U.P. State Fair averaged 100,000 attendees the last two years.