Escanaba, MI – Fair organizers almost beam with pride when discussing Saturday of the annual fair week, especially the Junior Market Livestock Auction which rewards U.P. youth for their hard work down on the farm.
Steve Masters of the U.P. State Fair management team said the fair has a phenomenal economic impact on the region. He added that the livestock auction may be the best indicator of that impact.
The 2012 livestock auction generated approximately $400,000 in sales for the livestock owners, Masters said. “When you couple that $400,000 with the $50,000 that the U.P. State Fair Authority budgets annually for premiums that we pay back to the exhibitors, that’s $450,000 that is going back to those exhibitors,” Masters said.
He added most youth use funds from the livestock auction for college educations and for career advancement.
The auction takes place in the arena at the beef barn.
“It’s really fun to see the hubbub of activity during the auction. All the sights and sounds and smells come together for a rather incredible experience. On top of that you see the pride in the sellers’ eyes as they see years’ of hard work finally pay off in a very rewarding way,” he said.
Saturday, Aug. 17, is Scout and Agriculture Day, which is sponsored by Tractor Supply. Scouts wearing their uniforms receive a discount when paying admission to the fair.
Saturday’s grandstand entertainment, which is free with price of admission to the fair, is UPIR stock car racing at 7 p.m.
This year’s fair is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 18.
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