Houghton County Fair Board Cuts Ribbon on an Extension to the Exhibitor Building

Just in time for the Copper Country to view the great exhibitor’s space at the Houghton County Fair. The Fair Board has completed work on an expansion to the exhibitor barn. The new space offers the fair board a new space for an air-conditioned ticket booth, office, and handicap-accessible bathrooms within the exhibitor building. 50,000 dollars of the funding for the extension was donated by Phillip and his wife Loret Ruppe. With another portion of the financing through a 100,000 dollar grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

We were able to apply for an MDARD grant. The legislators agreed to have funds for county fairs specifically. We had a matching portion and another donation from former congressman Phil Ruppe and his wife Loret. The exhibits focus on youth so they can show what they do, and they take great pride in that. Our youth talent show is growing, so if kids have talents they’ll be in the Exhibit building Saturday afternoon. And we have a senior day, and sometimes this is their visiting place of the year.  – Carol Saari, Office Manager, Houghton County Fair Board

The 900-square-foot extension to the Exhibitor building will act as an operations center for the fair board while the fair takes place. The Ticket booth and office space will allow the board to place members and volunteers at a central location for emergencies or general fair operations.

Well, we’d have, with our new operations center; we’ll have more items ready to help people in our new building. And then of course the new restrooms are a great plus because people don’t have to look around looking for a restroom.– Kathy Caspary, Board of Directors, Houghton County Fair Board

The Houghton County Fair will open Thursday, August 22nd, including the exhibitor building for the 2024 exhibits. Caspary says the fair will include many traditional festivities with carnival games and rides, the tough truck rally, and much more. Tickets are on sale for the 2024 Houghton County Fair. Early bird adult 4-day passes cost 25 dollars and youth passes will cost 14 dollars. Find more about the Houghton County Fair in 2024 here.