Staff photos/Rhonda Silence Congratulations to the Cook County Fair participants who won “Best of Show” in their respective categories! (L-R) Stan Smith with his beautiful orchid; Ruth Lovaas with a tasty yeast bread coffee cake; Del Rosenquist with an amazing vegetable assortment; Wayne Hensche with a humorous 3-dimensional woodcarving; Irene Malner with two entries—huge raspberries and a lovely lemon pie; Gloria Johnson with a delicious peach jam; Mable Stoltz with an intricately knitted afghan. In front is Jordyn Deschampe, 11, with her prizewinning Yukon Gold potatoes. (Not pictured are winners Fern Lovaas who entered a lovely gold quilt and Sophie Holz who entered a beautiful painting).
With entrants ranging in age from 18 months to 100-plus years, the Cook County Fair was deemed a success by all who attended. There were 71 exhibitors entering 505 items, up slightly from last year’s 496. The Fair Board awarded $1,100.50 in prizes and ribbons. School entries were amazingly the same as last year—in 2008 and 2009, the County Fair received 117 entries from local youths.
The oldest person entering the fair was Gunnar Erickson, over 100 years old, of Grand Marais with his strawberry jam. The youngest entrant was AnnaBelle Silence, 18 months old, of Grand Marais, with a construction paper and sequin painting. The fair contributor with the most entries was Vi Rindahl of Grand Marais with 40 entries, followed by Del Rosenquist of Grand Marais with 19 entries.
Despite difficult gardening weather, there were many incredible entries in the fruit and vegetable categories. There were 156 vegetables on display and 86 flowers. There were 63 entries in needlework and 96 arts & crafts exhibits. There were 64 tempting baked goods items and a great assortment of canned goods, 37. The smallest fair class this year was eggs, with just three entries.
Staff photos/Laurie Johnson The Sawtooth Mountain Saddle Club had its first event in the Gunflint Horse Park during the 2009 fair. Top: Marybeth Wilkes rounding the second barrel in the barrel race competition. Above left: Philis Anderson in the driving competition with her Fjord horse. Above right: John Ofjard and his Norwegian Fjord horse wait for their turn in the “Parade of Breeds.”
The 117 entries for kids, from preschool to senior high, were made by 35 exhibitors who were rewarded with $223.50 in prize money. Reilly Wahlers and Jordyn Deschampe were the most prolific students, with 15 entries each.
A number of entrants received special recognition, earning a coveted purple “Best of Fair” ribbon. One of the most interesting entries was in arts & crafts, a woodcarving by Wayne Hensche of Colvill. Hensche made a three-dimensional cartoon depicting an all too common scene in his life as a surveyor— as the surveyor attempts to carve numbers into a bearing tree, he is beset by mosquitoes. Jordyn Deschampe, 11, returned to earn best of fair for her massive Yukon Gold potatoes. And Irene Malner of Grand Marais took two best of fair awards for her gigantic raspberries and her lemon pie.
Other “Best of Fair” winners are Fern Lovaas with a lovely gold-toned quilt and her sister, Ruth Lovaas, with delicious coffee bread in the yeast baking category. Winning for knitting is Mable Stolz with a beautiful afghan and in the flower category, Stan Smith, with an incredible orchid. Del Rosenquist, renowned for his gardening skills, received best of fair for a vegetable collection. Student Sophie Holz received the top honor in school entries with her entry, a lovely portrait.
Staff photo/Laurie Johnson Annie Lynch, 6, tumbles down the giant inflatable dinosaur!
Staff photo/Laurie Johnson Kay Rosenthal and Linda Bauer carding wool to spin at a Northwoods Fiber Guild demonstration at the fair on Saturday, August 22.
Staff photo/Jane Howard Artist/blacksmith Don Hammer displaying the tools of his trade at the county fair Saturday, August 22, 2009. He makes many of the tools he uses to create metal art.
Staff photo/Jane Howard Wellesley and Adrian Howard-Larsen of Grand Marais watch over this little goat that got away from the petting zoo enclosure at the County Fair.
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