Cora Hansen, 2, left, and her sister Lizzie, 6, both of Holt ,stop to talk to Buford Bear Tuesday at the Ingham County Fair in Mason. The bear was driving through the fairground when it stopped to talk to them.
Sue Michell, a Mason resident, explored the Ingham County Fair Tuesday afternoon, taking in all of the displays that ranged from antiques to farm animals to corn and soybeans.
She said her town prides itself on the tradition of family fun of the fair, which is held at the Ingham County Fairgrounds, 700 E. Ash St. in Mason.
“I don’t have to fill up my gas tank and drive somewhere else to have a good time,” Michell said. “I can stay right here, save money and explore the county I live in”
Along with her daughter, Allison, Michell said she has been coming to the fair for five years, and she is always amazed by the things she learns about Mason and the surrounding areas.
“I have always known Michigan is an agricultural state, but coming to the fair really puts that into perspective,” she said. “There is everything from a Christmas tree decorating contest to livestock auctions and farming competitions.”
Fair Manager Tom Edman said that is exactly what the fair aims to provide, giving local residents a chance to experience and learn what Ingham County is all about.
“Even people that have lived in the area their entire lives may have never had a chance to truly experience it,” Edman said. “(The fair) gives them a chance to stick close to home and be exposed to things, such as our agricultural exhibit, that they otherwise might not know is a big part of our county.”
Daily tickets ranging from $3 to $5 per person can be bought at the fair’s entrance, and are good for the entire day, excluding the nightly Grandstand events.
Keeping ticket prices at a low cost is what Edman said helps to draw people to the fair.
“There is no question right now that many people are cutting their spending as it has become a little harder to make ends meet,” he said. “Coming to the fair not only is cheaper than going to the movie theater, but it keeps local money local, and that’s important.”
After Monday’s Grandstand truck and tractor pull event, Edman said the fair pulled in more people than any event did last year, leading him to believe the fair’s attendance rate will exceed the 100,000 people projected for the weeklong event.
Edman said he also expects Tuesday’s SJO Michigan State Fair Super Cross Championship to be very popular because local riders can race in age groups starting at 5 years old.
Lansing resident Tom Brewner was among those at Monday’s event, and said in the three years he has attended the fair, he has never seen as many people.
“This place was packed, and I think it is safe to say that’s because people are considering staying around town and saving money rather than taking road trips or out of state vacations,” he said.
For more information on the fair, visit www.ingham.org/fb/fairhome.htm.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
