Bayfield County Fair

06/16/2024

It’s National Fresh Veggie Day!! We get lots of fresh veggies at the fair every year. What veggie are you going to enter?

06/14/2024

At the fair office we are so excited for the fair this year we already have a count down!! We hope you all are just as excited as us as there is Fifty Five Days left till the Bayfield County Fair!!!!

06/12/2024

Wisconsin Requires Influenza A Testing Prior to Movement of Lactating Dairy Cattle to Fairs and Exhibitions

MADISON, Wis. — In an effort to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) in dairy cattle, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture,...

06/10/2024

PREMIUM LIST CORRECTION:

Junior Division, Department 102, Class J & K, is missing Lot 3 in the Premium List. We inadvertently left off the Heavy Weight.

CLASSES:
J. Market Animals (4-H Market Sale)
K. Market Animals (Non-4-H Market Sale)
Steer or heifers entered in market beef entry Classes shall be raised to be sold at market and shall be shown by weight. Entries may include beef, crossbred beef, dairy beef cross or dairy beef breeds. If 11 or more animals are entered in any entry Class, that Class may be divided into two (2) or more approximately equal subclasses and each subclass may be judged as a separate entry Class. An exhibitor may enter up to three (3) animals, and may receive up to two (2) premiums in any entry Class.

1st - $8.00 2nd - $7.00 3rd - $6.00 4th - $5.00
Lot #
1. Light Weight (under 1049 lbs) *
2. Medium Weight (1050 - 1249 lbs) *
3. Heavy Weight (1250 lbs and over) *

*NOTE: We reserve the right to modify the weight ranges
if too many animals are in one weight category.

06/06/2024

Free Admission when you Volunteer at the Fair!

Earn $5/hr. for your favorite non-profit organization (4-H club, church, school sports team, band, choir or class trip, etc.). Plus, get a free daily pass if you work a minimum three hour shift or a season pass if you work 6 hours or more!

Volunteer at the next county fair.

05/29/2024

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanded support for producers to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (also known as H5N1) in dairy cattle. This announcement included:
•Supporting biosecurity planning and implementation (affected and unaffected producers0 - Up to $1,500 per premises
•Reimbursing producers for veterinary costs associated with sample collection for HPAI (H5N1) testing (affected and unaffected producers) - Up to $2,000 per premises
•Offsetting shipping costs for Influenza A testing at laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) (affected and unaffected producers) - Up to $50 per shipment for up to two shipment per month per premises
•Compensate producers for loss of milk production (affected producers)

Access the full release from USDA.

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2024 -- Since the detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle in March, USDA has worked swiftly and diligently to assess the prevalence of the virus in U.S. dairy herds and to use the latest scientific data to learn about the virus and to quickly contain the disease event. As part of this....

05/28/2024

Free Admission into the Fair - includes all entertainment and Carnival Rides.

If you are under the age of 16 you can get into the Fair for free on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Here is the schedule for that day.

11:00 am Gates Open
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Face Painting
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Caricature Drawing
1:00 pm - 10:00 pm Pickle Ball
1:00 pm - 10:00 pm Corn Hole
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Food Vendors
4:00 pm - 11:00 pm Carnival: Rides, Games, and Food.

05/22/2024

Pullorum Testing is required to show at the Fair. A free testing date has been set.

Update: Birds must be sexually mature to be tested. A sexually mature bird is a bird over 4 months old.

Please bring your poultry or waterfowl on June 30 to the Fairgrounds and get your free pullorum test.

05/21/2024

The Premium Lists are here! Pick up your copy today at our office in Washburn or look for them being distributed this week at your local libraries, banks, and various other locations throughout the County.

05/14/2024

Update 6/1/2024: We have found all our bands. Thank you for all your help! See the full schedule here:
https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/252/Entertainment

We are still looking for bands to play in the Beer Garden. If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact David at [email protected].

We have spots for Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon and evening.

05/13/2024

Happy Monday. I hope you had a chance to see the Northern Lights over the weekend. The were spectacular. This was taken on the ore dock in Ashland.

05/06/2024

The Clothing and Foods revues were held this past weekend at the Iron River Community Center. Thank you to UW Extension for organizing the event, the Katie and Bill Tuura for hosting, Glory Bizub for judging, and of course a huge thank you to all the exhibitors and their families who attended.

First Place Ribbons for Foods went to:
Bae Colman - Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Thor Tuura - Marinated Steak
Chalee Luzzatto - Potato Salad
Erik Maki - Lemon Blueberry Tart
Olivia Osmark - Fruit Salad
Dylan Osmark - Yogurt Cluster

First Place Ribbons for Clothing went to:
Olivia Chaney - Skirt with casing
Adrienne McGuire - Blouse with skirt or jumper
Adrienne McGuire - Dress or jumper

What a great event!

05/03/2024

The Premium List is at the printers and should be available in a week or two for those who need a hard copy.

You can download the full list, your Division, or just the Department you want to enter in on the Fair website along with the entry forms and all other forms you may need.

New this year - you can pay your entry fee online!

https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/1006/Premium-List

https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/255/Exhibitor-Information

Have a great weekend!

04/24/2024

Fair History

Horses have played a large role in the Fairgrounds since its inception. For decades the Bayfield County Fairgrounds were considered to have the best race track in the circuit. I am not sure when racing stopped at the Fairgrounds but there was harness racing until the early 1930's. Please share any pictures you may have of horse racing at the Fairgrounds.

The Draft Horse Barn and two horse barns were built in in 1915 and 1916. The Draft Horse Barn still remains but the North and South Horse Barns were taken down in the mid 2000's.

The current Horse Arena was built in 1980. The "Green Horse Barn" or the "4-H Horse Barn" or "Horse Barn A" was built in 1983 and has a wooden sign officially designating it the "Charles Diamon" Horse Barn. I can find no information on Charles, if you have any information, it would be greatly appreciated. The second Horse barn was built in 2007 and is known as the "Horse Barn" or "Horse Stalls" or "Horse Barn B." What do you call these two buildings?

Other than being used at the Fair, these are used by the 4-H Equine Council, Horse shows, and anyone wanting to run their horses at the Fairgrounds in the summer. If there is not a show going on, you are always welcome to use the arena and stalls for an afternoon for your personal use.

Horse shows have been the main use of the Fairgrounds in the summer in recent years. The Chequamegon EZ Riders Association and Northwoods Dressage Association hold shows on weekends in the summer. Check out the schedule at bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/fair as the public is always welcome to attend and watch these shows.

Chequamegon EZ Riders
North Woods Dressage Association

04/19/2024

A huge shout out to Brooklyn Benson, of the Friendly Valley 4-H Club, as the winner of the Premium List Cover Contest. We hope you love the design as much as we do.

Brooklyn captured the essence of the Fair with this wonderful design by incorporating many different aspects of the Fair into one unified and beautiful work of art.

Brooklyn will receive free entry into the Fair as an exhibitor, a Fair t-shirt, and of course bragging rights for her and her club.

Congratulations Brooklyn!!

04/17/2024

DATCP has received reports of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopa​thy (EHM) in six Wisconsin counties: Clark, Columbia, Grant, Monroe, Sauk, and Vernon. Access the map of reported cases here.​

Horses at affected facilities have tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), a highly contagious virus that causes respirator disease, abortion, and intermittent outbreaks of neurologic disease in horses. Read an update from DATCP's Division of Animal Health here​.​

https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/HorseOtherEquineMvmt.aspx

04/15/2024

Bayfield County Fair "All Stars" play many different roles. They can be volunteers, judges, superintendents, attendees, exhibitors, etc. The one thing they all share is a love for the Bayfield County Fair.

Today we honor Glory Bizub. Glory has been involved with 4-H since she was 10 years old and still going strong! Her willingness to teach others and her dedication are unmatched. 4-H leader, exhibitor, judge, superintendent, volunteer... Glory checks every box for an All Star and is willing to help with anything and everything.

I know I would not be where I am without all the help she has given me. Thank you Glory.

04/10/2024

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬

Come one, come all, lend an ear to this plea,
For a fundraising opportunity, as bright as can be.
From the 8th to the 11th of warm August days,
We look for your support in myriad ways.

Do you hold an organization close to your heart?
Or perhaps a child's team, from which you can't part?
Their band, athletic group, or a school activity,
Deserving of funds, for their productivity.

Why not volunteer, at our admission gate?
Earn dollars for causes, that you advocate.
And the cherry on top, oh it's quite a treat,
Free entry to the Fair, isn't that neat?

To learn more, and make an easy score,
visit - www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/volunteer

Volunteer at the next county fair.

04/05/2024

04/03/2024

Fair History

The first flush toilets at the Fairgrounds were built in 1950. The new facilities were built in 2002 and included showers for those who are camping at the Fairgrounds or renting the facility for their events. All the modern luxuries! Do we really miss the old days of outhouses?

03/28/2024

Happy Thursday! With everyone who helped us come up with a name for our four legged friend helping us promote the Fair....drum roll please....meet Bae!!

Here is Bae coming home.

Thank you to Artists on the Byway Gallery of Washburn for loaning us "Bae" for the summer.

03/27/2024

Fair History - on the lighter side.

In 1933 a man was arrested for stealing a pumpkin at the Fair. It was so heavy he tripped an fell trying to run away, smashing the pumpkin. He was placed in a police car and proceeded to kick out the windshield and try to escape. He spent 10 days in jail for his efforts.

Even though the pumpkin was smashed and in pieces, it took home a 1st place ribbon because of it's impressive size.

03/22/2024

Reminder: For those storing items at the Fairgrounds. Pick up Dates are April 20-21 and April 27-28 from 10-2 each day. If you have not already, please let us know what day you will be picking up your item.

You did not know you could store items at the Fairgrounds over winter? Cars, ATV's, trailers, boats, pontoons, RV's, and more. Contact us for details.

03/21/2024

Bayfield County Fair "All Stars" play many different roles. They can be volunteers, judges, superintendents, attendees, exhibitors, etc. The one thing they all share is a love for the Bayfield County Fair.

Today we honor two sisters: Carolyn Maunu and Dory Jenson. Both were tireless supporters of 4-H and the Fair. Over 30 years as Superintendents and being involved in every role possible at the Fair. They loved to teach and involve the next generation into their craft as well as getting many volunteers to come to help at the Fair, especially their extended families. Thank you for all you have done for the Bayfield County Fair.

03/19/2024

Fair History - Updates.

The Grassland train car was used in1904.

Upon further research, the oldest building on the Fairgrounds is not the Exhibit Hall which was built in 1911 but the 4-H Garden building.

The 4-H Garden Building was the original exhibit hall and was built in 1900.

The smaller round building was the small animal barn, built in 1917 to house rabbits and poultry. It collapsed in 1983 from snow. Oddly, I can find no pictures of this building in our files. If you have any please share them with us.

03/15/2024

We have a new friend helping us promote the Fair at the County Courthouse in Washburn. Our friend does not have a name. Can you help us pick a name? Leave your guess in the comments.

03/12/2024

Fair History

This 55' foot train car was donated by the Wisconsin Central Railroad to promote agriculture in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, and Iron counties. It left the Bayfield County Fair with displays of fruits and vegetables and traveled to southern Wisconsin and Iowa to show what a what great agricultural area the South Shore was. It was called the Grassland - Exhibit on Wheels.

Do you know what year?

03/07/2024

Rent the Fairgrounds!

Did you know you can rent the Fairgrounds to hold your event or meeting? Horse shows, dog shows, flea markets, craft fairs, swap meets, car shows, birthdays, weddings, meetings and more.

Rental includes bathrooms, electric, water, picnic tables, and use of various buildings. Rental of the Fairgrounds is only $200/day with camping available for a small fee.

Contact us for availability and details.

https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/860/Other-Events-at-the-Fair-Grounds

03/04/2024

How things have changed through the years. If you have old pictures of the fairgrounds to share please let us know.

The Maintenance Building, Draft Horse Barn, Beef Barn, North and South Horse Barns, Grandstand, Concession Stands, and Small Animal Barn were all built around 1920. Is the small round building the small animal barn? Was that the original exhibit hall or education building? Let me know your thoughts?

Changes at the Fairgrounds 1939 compared to 2022