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and the National Endowment for the Humanities
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Community Wide |
Ford River >> Rural Economics >> |
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| Upper Peninsula Steam and Gas Engine Association 4- H Clubs Play an Important Role in Delta County |
 ~ Delta County Fair ~ |
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Upper Peninsula State Fair
Delta County Historial Society ~
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| ~First UP Fair 1928~ |
Escanaba received the honor of being named the location for
the Upper Peninsula State Fair in April, 1927
Michigan Gov. Fed Green signed Act 89, which stated, "An annual state fair at the City of Escanaba, which shall have for its main purpose the exploiting, and encouragement of improved methods in agriculture and industrial pursuits I hereby authorize."
Funds were allocated for construction of exhibit buildings, livestock shelters, a grandstand and racetrack. The site for the fairgrounds was the same location as the Delta County Agricultural
Society fairs. Construction of the grandstand, said to seat 4,500, began in March 1928.
The first Upper Peninsula State Fair officially opened on September 17, 1928
| The fair began with a special flag raising ceremony and dedication by Senator Herbert Rushton who was acting on behalf of Governor Fred Green. It’s estimated that 10,000 people attended in the first week. The day admission price was fifty cents for adults for and twenty five cents at night; children’s tickets were twenty five cents for the day and fifteen cents for the evening. |  ~The First Upper Peninsula State Fair~ |
enter at the state level. The week's activities included: horse racing, a cow-calling contest,
horseshoe pitching, carnival rides, circus and vaudeville acts. Fireworks closed the fair each night.
The fairgrounds have seen many improvements since 1928
The present site encompasses 120 acres of land and has been expanded to 24 buildings.
The office complex and grandstand, which seats 3,500 was completed in 1987, at the same
time as a half-mile racetrack. A horse barn and indoor riding arena were completed in 1988.
Facilities include the Ruth G. Butler Exhibition Building, a hone/art building, and maintenance
shop. Temporary administration office, cattle, horse, poultry, sheep, and swine barns, youth exhibit building, dining hall, dormitories and horse and cattle show rings.
The Upper Peninsula State Fair prides itself on showing the best of the best in
country talents.
At the 2000 Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba, the Nelson logging business was a featured historical display.
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| ~ UP State Fair ~ |
Agriculture and the natural resources of the Upper Peninsula
are still an important focus of the U.P. State Fair
Evidence of this is the "pocket park" which first opened in 1999. The Department of Natural
Resources created the park with a wildlife display, a stream with a waterfall, picnic area, teaching station and a replica of the Sand Point Lighthouse. The centerpiece of this project features a pond shaped like the U.P., stocked with fish for young anglers.
The history of the UP State Fair clearly illustrates that progress has been its principal goal, and this attribute supports its theme” Show Window of the Upper Peninsula.
Upper Peninsula Steam & Gas Engine Association > up
Supporting information from interviews with Harry Nelson
The UP State Fair has always been the venue and home to the organization
Initially, Steam & Gas rented a nearby building to store machinery and transported them down
to the State Fair grounds for public display. The organization now boasts a home site right at the fairgrounds with a museum, flourmill, sawmill, cookshack and numerous artisans’ shops.
Current construction will add to both the museum and the cook shack. Funds for this non-profit organization come primarily from admissions and store sales. Many volunteers keep this
organization and its events alive and vibrant.
Steam & Gas is open during the fair week and every Labor Day week-end.
Harry and his family have been involved with Steam & Gas since 1975
The Nelson farm has supplied crops for animal consumption and logs for sawing and
shingle-making demonstrations in the sawmill.
The Nelson kids have a long-term involvement; as youngsters they grew up providing a helping
hand with transportation of the equipment and set-up. Eventually, they helped with operations such as running the silo-filler and the hay baler. Harry’s children have always been around these activities.
Each family member participated
Harry’s wife, Catherine, was active in the store and kitchen, and was always encouraging the kids’ involvement. Harry’s job was that of threshing—he has passed the skills down to his grandson and younger great-nephew.
4-H Club Play an Important Role in Delta County > up
~ Supporting information provided from Michigan State University Extention Office ~
How It All Began…
An American innovation, the 4-H youth development program of the Cooperative Extension
originated at the turn of the century because of a vital need to improve life in rural areas.
Introducing improved methods of farming and homemaking, 4-H taught youth to "learn by doing."
The yearly program in one of those early clubs consisted of growing corn, planting a garden,
testing soil, club meetings, and visits to club members' plots and exhibits.
The year 1907 marked the beginning of 4-H work under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 1908, Michigan started corn clubs in Mason and Muskegon counties. Over the next 30 years,
4-H spread throughout the country as sheep, corn, poultry, canning, and cake baking clubs were established.
During World War I, the energies of 4-H members were devoted to raising food. Projects were
raising corn and canning tomatoes. Following a period of readjustment after World War I, 4-H club work showed a continual growth.
The first organized 4-H club started in
St. Nicholas Michigan in 1924.
The club leader was Jim Vanderstar who was a Dairy Heard Improvement Association tester (D.H.I.A.). The known members of this club were Henry Depuydt, Racheal Depuydt, Perter
Vermote, Constaut Bermote, Mary Depuydt, eliz Depuydt Beachamp, Eliz Heirman Beaudyr,
and Joe Heirman. The club conducted projects in dairying, gardening, canning, and sewing.
World War II changed the focus of 4-H
A major change occurred during World War II when much effort was directed toward victory gardens, civilian defense, salvage programs, and bond campaigns as well as food preservation. The victory garden program also brought 4-H to urban people.
Today, Cooperative Extension and its 4-H programs serve people in towns, cities, and
rural areas with information on agriculture, family living, community development, and related subjects. To this day, 4-H clubs continue to play an important role in Delta County’s
community life.
