Photo courtesy of Cook County Fair Above: Simon Says….The 4-H Horse Club met recently at the new Cook County Fairgrounds Gunflint Horse Arena to learn some basic skills about horses with fun games like Simon Says and others. The 4-H Horse Club has six new volunteer 4-H horse leaders. Come and watch three days of horse show events during the Cook County Fair on August 21, 22 and 23!
Since the 1920s the Cook County Fair has been a gathering place for county residents— a place to display prize-winning vegetables, beautiful baked goods or hand-crafted treasures—but also a place to sit down over a cup of coffee and catch up with neighbors as the busy summer winds down.
Cook County Fair 2009 organizers hope to rekindle the rich tradition with some fun family activities. There will be “inflatable family fun,” with inflatable rides called Jurassic Survivor, Sports Challenge, Defender Dome, and Wizard’s Castle. On Sunday, the famous Cake Walk will be held—a treat for young and old, with the promise of prizes that are “not just cake”!
The Sawtooth Mountain Saddle Club will hold its first event in the Gunflint Horse Park, with PeeWee and Lead Line Games on Friday, demonstrations by various breeds on Saturday, and a Play Day on Sunday when horses and their owners compete in often hilarious competitions such as Ribbon Race, Lemon Wedgie Race, Egg & Spoon, and much more.
Between the Community Center displays and the Horse Park, there is a wonderful opportunity for kids—a petting zoo. Stop by with your kids to visit some interesting and pettable animals.
Fair organizers also hope that the tradition of entering items in the fair will continue— in recent years entries have been down. Organizers believe this may be because people may not realize the numerous exhibit categories. Premium books are available at the Grand Marais Library, WTIP radio, Cook County Community Center and thecourthouse in Grand Marais; at the North Shore Federal Credit Union in Lutsen; and Mike’s Holiday in Tofte. Stop by and pick up a book and consider sharing your talents or skills with the county. There are categories ranging from animals, vegetables, fruits and flowers to needlework, painting, and woodworking. There are special categories for school children, and seeing the wonderful entries from pre-schoolers to high schoolers is always a treat. There are small monetary prizes and colorful prize ribbons for the best in each category.
In addition to traditional fair entries, there are two great contests for woodworkers and young bakers! Superior Lumber is sponsoring a woodworking project contest for kids 16 & under and for adults, with a $25 prize going to a wood crafted item. Winners will be selected by the public, so stop by the fair and vote for your favorite woodworking project!
Johnson’s Foods is sponsoring a Cookie Contest for kids 17 and under. Kids are encouraged to submit six cookies and the recipe in one of three categories—prettiest, ugliest, or tastiest!
For more information about these contests or about the fair, call (218) 387-3015. Participate in the county fair this year by:
• entering your projects
on Wednesday, August 19th from 9 AM to 7
PM at the Cook County
Community Center.
• Or stop by to enjoy
the exhibits and activities Aug. 21 – 22 from 10 AM – 8 PM!
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