Houghton County Fair visit: part 1

Photos by Gustavo Bourdieu and Michele Anderson, as indicated.

Inside the Houghton County Fair Exhibit Building, Sean Godmere, 3, son of Shane and Michele Godmere of Centennial Heights, tries his steering skills at the Toddler Driving School -- in the company of Houghton County Fair Queen Genny Gierke of Chassell. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

HANCOCK -- From kids' fun to prize-winning tomatoes to tough, competitive horse-pulling, Keweenaw Now captured some highlights of the Houghton County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, at the Fairgrounds in Hancock.

These Prize-winning tomatoes were among the local garden produce on display in the Exhibit Building at the Houghton County Fair, whose theme this year was "Locally Produced, Locally Enjoyed!" (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Winners in the home canning exhibit included many jars of quality fruit preserves -- a traditional County Fair exhibit. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Entertainment on the Indoor Arena stage Saturday afternoon included music, song and dance by talented area young people like Emily Oppliger of Hancock, pictured here. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Elizabeth Flynn of Hancock was one of several volunteers working at the Houghton County Democrats' booth in the Indoor Arena. Local organizations and businesses displayed information in booths at the fair. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

The weather cooperated this weekend so that fairgoers could enjoy the many outdoor activities and rides. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

The giant slide is popular with kids of all ages! (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Volunteers from the Women's Mission Outreach of Zion Lutheran Church serve homemade pies and beef and lamb sandwiches at their booth in the Indoor Arena. "All the money that we raise goes to the missions," said Cheryl Hendricks, center, of Hancock. Also pictured are Hendricks' sister Debbie McCuskey, left, visiting from Novi, Mich., and Debbie Stimac of Hancock. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Another popular food booth offered such tempting aromas that it was hard to pass it without trying a Greek Kabob of lamb, chicken cooked in olive oil or seafood followed by a traditional dessert of tasty baklava. Chefs Dimitri Sakerlaraitis and Luz Perez traveled here from Toronto to participate in the fair. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

This blue-ribbon-winning duck is from the Askel Hill Farm in Pelkie. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

It's siesta time for this contented piggy! (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Driving these high-stepping draft horses are Terry Lane, left, of Sundell, Mich., and Lauri Vanelsacker of Northland, Mich., who participated in the Parade of Horses Saturday afternoon. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

A variety of draft horses and wagons line up for the Parade of Horses. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Copper Country Riders and their horses parade in the Main Event Arena. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Many volunteers and sponsors make the Houghton County Fair a success. Visit the Fair's Web site for the names of sponsors. Watch for photos of the Draft Horse Pull competition, coming soon.