People who enter homegrown and homemade items in the Cook County fair are very prolific. An even 100 exhibitors entered a total of 615 entries for this year’s event on Friday and Saturday, August 20 and 21.
Seventy-one adult exhibitors entered a total of 441 entries, and 29 youth exhibitors entered a total of 174 entries. Theoldest entrant is believed to be 102½-year-old Gunnar Erickson with his raspberry jam.
Vi Rindahl didn’t get an award for the greatest number of entries, but with 57, she topped the second- and third-mostprolific entrants, Liz Rosenquist with 23 entries and Wayne Anderson with 20.
Some of the youth exhibitors displayed the results of a great deal of labor as well. Ashley Berglund, Skyler Wilson, and Dominic Wilson each entered 20 exhibits, and Saffron Straub was close behind with 19 exhibits.
Best of fair | ||
Vegetables (collection of seven): | Ann Rosenquist | |
Potatoes (Yukon gold): | Peggy Peterson | |
Yeast bread (dinner rolls): | Hazel McClanahan | |
Baking (ginger snaps): | Liz Rosenquist | |
Canning (habañero jelly): | Jan Smith | |
Knitting (adult sweater): | Liz Rosenquist | |
Weaving (hand-dyed woven scarf ): | Pat Zankman | |
Flowers (orchid): | Susan Shaffer | |
Art (photo): | Jim Ringquist | |
Needlework (Hardanger embroidery): | Lauri Hill | |
Best of school exhibits | ||
Vegetables (watermelon and Daikon radish): | Treasure Gardeners | |
Artwork (watercolor): | Alice Koster |
Number of open class (adult) entries | ||
Vegetables | 157 | |
Flowers | 28 | |
Sewing | 65 | |
Baking | 43 | |
Canning | 64 | |
Crafts | 84 | |
Total: | 441 |

Some of the Best of Fair and Best of School winners at the 2010 Cook County Fair held August 20 and 21. (L-R): Maria Callender (Treasure Gardeners’ watermelon and Daikon radish), Fern Lovaas (quilt), Liz Rosenquist (ginger snaps and sweater), Hazel McClanahan (dinner rolls), Ann Rosenquist (vegetables), Jim Ringquist (photo), Jan Smith (habañero jelly), Lauri Hill (Hardanger embroidery). Not pictured: Peggy Peterson (Yukon gold potatoes), Pat Zankman (hand-dyed woven scarf), Susan Shaffer (orchid), and Alice Koster (youth artwork).

Kids enjoyed the two giant inflatable playgrounds at the Cook County Fair—this maze and another bounce house.

Jordan Gotchie, age 1, eagerly petted Jinsey Smith’s pet sheep at the Cook County Fair. Jinsey also brought a sweet-faced, adorable llama for kids and adults to pet and get to know.

Above left: Joel Lewis chuckles as Amanda Drake fancies up a goat’s tail in the goat tyeing event at the Gunflint Horse Park on Sunday, August 21. Dozens of horses and owners enjoyed a sunny weekend of horse play during the Cook County Fair. Above right: The Sawtooth Mountain Riders Saddle Club hosted three days of fun at the Gunflint Horse Park during the Fair. Joel Lewis of Hovland gallops around the barrels.
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