New uphill challenge at Ontonagon County Fair
- Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Jace Dove, 11, of L’Anse approaches the ribbon as he takes first place in the children’s hill climb up Adventure Mountain at the Ontonagon County Fair Saturday.
- Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Linda DeMill and Rick Martin check out the bakery exhibits at the Ontonagon County Fair Saturday.
- Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Children enjoy a tractor-pull ride at the Ontonagon County Fair Saturday.
- Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Attractions at the Ontonagon County Fair included an antique tractor show.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Linda DeMill and Rick Martin check out the bakery exhibits at the Ontonagon County Fair Saturday.
GREENLAND — Antique tractors, ninja courses and rodeos all shared space as residents enjoyed the annual Ontonagon County Fair.
Possibly because of the concurrent CopperFest, turnout had been quiet but steady, said fair secretary Gale Kocher. But those who made it to the exhibit building found more to look at than in the recent past, with entries up more than 100 over last year.
“We have a lot of canning and bakery this year,” she said. “That’s kind of neat. That’s been pretty sparse the last few years.”
Fair board member Vicki Kirtland, who lives in Bruce Crossing, has already been recruiting more participation from the south side of the county, Kocher said.
“Something’s happening,” she said. “It’s making a big difference.”

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Children enjoy a tractor-pull ride at the Ontonagon County Fair Saturday.
New this year was the Adventure Mountain Challenge, where people competed in a race partway up the slope.
“We wanted to do something to take advantage of the hill,” Kocher said.
A group of children led off, racing up a steep but shaded portion. After pausing to rest, they sprinted back down in a rematch.
The first one up the hill was Jace Dove, 11, of L’Anse.
“It’s a challenge, because it’s usually colder out,” he said. “But I toughed through it and I did it.”

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Attractions at the Ontonagon County Fair included an antique tractor show.
Dove likes the fair because “I get to hang out with all my friends.” Aside from the race, he likes fishing at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s trout pond and the Ninja Warrior course.
Added last year, laser tag continued to be popular, Kocher said. Inside the exhibit building, kids got to enjoy a craft table, balloon animals and face painting.
“When they pay their $5 entry fee, it’s all free,” she said. “They don’t have to pay for the laser tag or getting their balloon animal.”
Also popular was the coin scramble, which had kids completely surrounding the field for a shot at finding their quarry.
“That went really, really well,” Kocher said. “They all come through, from every direction.”
Inside the exhibit hall, Tami Evans and Mystery Young of Ontonagon were checking out the exhibits. Animals are a highlight for Evans. Young, 6, sporting an elaborate facepainting design, got to connect with people she knew.
“I found some of the people in my class,” she said.
Linda DeMill and Rick Martin were looking at the bakery exhibits. DeMill had come because “I had to win first prize in jelly.”
“This county fair reminds me of old-time county fairs,” she said. “It’s a poor county, but they still put it on every year and try and involve the community. It’s cool.”
DeMill had another reason to like the fair: She got first prize.