Paula Porter, for the Gazette The main attraction of Saturday night at this year's Houghton County Fair was the monster truck show. This year's fair drew 21,350.

HANCOCK — The Houghton County Fair Association wrapped up the season with its annual meeting on Dec 11. The fair association learned that the attendance at this years fair was 21,350. The total attendance was down slightly from 2024 which saw more than 22,000 fair goers. The board set the dates for the 2026 fair for August 27 – 30.

There was a total of 109 adult exhibitors and 177 youth exhibitors at this year’s fair with 2,900 exhibits and more than $13,000 in premiums paid out to the exhibitors. This year’s Junior Market Livestock Auction raised $137,000 for 32 youth exhibitors, with 7 market beef steers, 17 market hogs, 8 market lambs and one market goat.

The fair spent $61,460 on professional Entertainment, which included the Monster Truck Throwdown, Sea Lion Splash, Whispering Pines Mobile Zoo, Alfy’s Robotic Puppets, Hypnotist Kerry Sharp, and the TNT Demolition Derby. Events run by the Fair included motocross races, the off-road Derby, and Lighting Ridge Music and Pasi. The Skerbeck Entertainment group operated the carnival and midway.

The Houghton County Fair received matching funds for a $94,000 project from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to replace aging electrical infrastructure and switch out the main event arena lights to energy efficient lighting, and add lights in and outside of several buildings. The overall sound system throughout the grounds will be improved. This project will be completed in time for the 2026 Fair.

The Fair Association reported an individual donated $25,000 for a new tractor with several local businesses donating $25,000 as a match for the purchase price. Overall sponsorships for the year exceeded $83,000 from businesses and individuals, including grants from the Portage Health Auxiliary toward the Senior lunch and Michigan Association of Fairs and MI Farm Bureau Family of Companies for Kids Day snacks.

The fair association held election of officers. Those elected to serve in 2026 are President-Rick Freeman, Vice President-Bob Tuomi, Secretary-Jenny Dice and Treasurer-Ethan Johnson.

Other board members included County Commissioner Glenn Anderson, Taana Blom, Kathleen Caspary, Jack Dunstan, Kyle Maki, Sarah Maki, Karen Palosaari, Steve Palosaari, Casey Strom, Kris Tapani and Debbie Winquist.

The board offered a special thanks to Beth Hillstrom, the online ticketing and social media expert, who resigned from the board but will remain a superintendent. The office staff will be Margaret Dunstan and Carol Saari with Jack Dunstan in charge of maintenance.