2016
photo submitted by WIND LARSON
AUGUST 9-13
LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
JEFF KIESSEL | DAILY NEWS
Fireworks light up the sky each year at the Western Michigan Fair.
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Storybooks and carnival rides
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Fair board ‘Read for Rides’ program motivates kids to hit the books BY ANDREW COOPER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
R
eading books has its privileges. Read for Rides, a collaboration between the Western Michigan Fair
‘I believe it is a program that helps kids stay engaged
with reading
during the summer months, while possibly providing an opportunity for families who might otherwise not be able to go on rides at the fair.’
JEFF KIESSEL | DAILY NEWS
Trinity Rowland fills out a form at the Mason County District Library in Ludington on Wednesday for the Read for Rides program with help from library employee
Marcia Hansen Emily Garland. Board and the Mason County District Libraries in Scottville and Ludington, gives a free ride ticket for every five books read. There were 122 elementary-aged children participating in this year’s program. “It went very well,” said Sue Carlson, “It’s a very popular program.” Marcia Hansen heard of similar programs at other
fairs. “I got the idea at the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions that we attend annually at the Amway in Grand Rapids,” Hansen said. “The educational component just seemed ilke the right thing to do, where we’re just keeping kids engaged during the summer months.”
Now in its second year, the Read for Rides program allows young readers to enjoy some free rides at the Western Michigan Fair, Aug. 9-13. “This is the second year that we’ve run this program. We’ve expanded it — with the help of an excellent sponsor Urka Auto Center — to purchase a
new book for each of the kids that successfully completes this program.” One area mom told Hansen that the ride incentive was the only reason her daughter read books during the summer. “For that, she was very grateful,” Hansen said. “All in all, I believe it is a program that helps kids stay
engaged with reading during the summer months, while possibly providing an opportunity for families who might otherwise not be able to go on rides at the fair.” The program started June 13 and continues through Aug. 5., at which point Scottville and Ludington librarians will tally up all
the names of all the children who participated and earned tickets. Tickets will be handed out at the Schmidt Ammusements ticket wagon on Aug. 11 at the Mason County Fair. From 4 to 11 p.m. that day, kids will be able to use the tickets they’ve earned to pay for rides.
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| THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
2016 Board of Directors Stacey Chisea
Roger Hansen
Tom Brackett
Ken Ferwerda
Rod Baker
Ann Wilkosz
John Lammi
Kathy Pleiness
John Shoop
Sheri Howe
Michael Stakenas
John Cregg
Ashley Shurlow
Joanna Story
submit your favorite fair photo! go to shorelinemedia.net and enter your favorite Western michigan fair association photo on our contest page
this year’s prizes are: 1st Place: 2 Round Trip Tickets to ride the SS Badger any day this season. Also, your Fair Photo will appear on the cover of next year’s Fair Premium Book 2nd Place: 4 Weeklong Grandstand Passes & parking passes for the 2017 Western Michigan Fair
2016 Fair Boo k
Photo submissions: August 9th thru 24th Voting: august 25th thru Sept. 11th
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| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
| THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
2016 Western Michigan Fair schedule Tuesday, August 9 Opening Day Dollar Day Fair Entrance $1 - All Rides $1
1 p.m. Gates Open 3 p.m. Midway Opens 5 p.m. West Shore Bank Family Buck Night (*First 500 children thru the gate receive $1 bill) 7 p.m. Michigan Tractor and Truck Pullers sponsored by Midas and North Central Co-op, admission $10 10 p.m. Fireworks to Music sponsored by Ludington Beverage (free to fairgoers) 11 p.m. — Midway closes
Wednesday, August 10
Thursday, August 11
Kids Day
Noon Midway Opens Noon-5 p.m. Kids Day Activities (Bike drawing, grandstand, 5 p.m.) Sponsored by T.J. Schmidt & Company, All Seasons Port a Johns and the Ludington Daily News Ride wristbands are $15 and Kids Day wristbands expire at 5 p.m. Backpacks sponsored by Knoll View Stables and Little Caesars Pizza 6 p.m. Marek’s Music Makers (east end of Floriculture Building) 6:45 p.m. Western Michigan Fair 2016 Homemaker announced (east end of Community Center) 7 p.m. Super Kicker Rodeo grandstand event admission $12 11 p.m. – Midway closes
Fair entrance is $3 per person (5 and younger enter free) Ride wristbands are $20 or $17 with coupon Wednesday through Friday
Plan on Sanders for your Summertime Favorites.
Heroes Celebration Day
All Veterans and Senior Citizens admitted free, shuttle service from parking lot will be available Noon-2 p.m. Special Kids Day (Children eligible for this special event will be by invitation only and given an ID badge through the West Shore ESD.) 2 p.m. Hay Bale Toss Contest 4-H Beef & Dairy Show Ring, free to fairgoers 3 p.m. Midway Opens Ride wristbands $20, $17 with coupon 4-11 p.m. Read for Rides 3-5 p.m. Ronald McDonald With free French Fry Coupons 5 p.m. Mason County 4-H Small Animal Council Auction 6 p.m Musical Vocal Talents of Shoreliners (at the east end of the Floriculture building) 6 p.m. Half time Tribute to area Veterans Everyone welcomed to attend 6:30 p.m. West Mi. Livestock Council Auction in 4-H Show/Sale Barn (beef, sheep & swine) 7 p.m. Garden Tractor Pull grandstand event, free to fairgoers 11 p.m. – Midway closes
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
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| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
2016 Western Michigan Fair schedule Friday, August 12
Saturday, August 13 Fair Finale
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1 p.m. Gates Open 3 p.m. Midway Opens 5 p.m. Pedal Pull for Kids, held in 4-H Show/Sale Barn 7 p.m. SJO Supercross grandstand event, admission, $10 (pit passes, $12) 11 p.m. – Midway closes
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8:30 a.m. 3rd. Annual Stampede 5k Fun Run/Walk 9 a.m. 6th Annual Barn Brawl (youth wrestling in 4-H Show/Sale Barn) 12 p.m. Midway Opens Ride wristbands $20 7 p.m. Night of Destruction Demolition Derby presented by Unique Motor Sports grandstand event admission $12 (pit passes $15) 11 p.m. Midway closes Please note – No animals permitted on midway, with the exception of Service Dogs
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
| THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
Chainsaw works of art
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BY ANDREW J. COOPER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
T
he Mason County Fair will have a new attraction this year: entire sculptures, carved on-site with a chainsaw. Brandon Adams of Springfield, Missouri, has been carving bears, eagles, owls, and other sculptures out of wood for almost six years. In addition to his favorite subject — the bald eagle — he has carved benches, entire trees, and a “22-footer with 13 different animals in it.” “I carved a lot of different things,” Adams said. “You can dream it, I can cut it out.” Adams will be at the Mason County Fairgrounds every day of the fair, carving four sculptures a day and auctioning each product off. He has never been to the Mason County Fair, but he has shown off his talents in Onekama, where the Fair Association discovered him. Adams said he was inspired after seeing similar chainsaw art at an amusement park. “I sell (my sculptures) just about anywhere, mainly East Coast to Midwest,” These owls are among many works the fair will offer. he said. “I carve mainly animals. Every now and again, In addition to the fair, work at Oakview on Aug. 9. I’ll carve (the) Sasquatch.” Adams will present his
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
| THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
Miniature carnival to be dedicated
BY MITCH GALLOWAY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER A 24-foot-long, three-byfour plywood display of a model carnival with Porky the Pig side shows, Ferris wheels and fair-food vendors welcoming visitors has been donated to the West Michigan Fair Association for display at the Mason County Fairgrounds. Ray Genter, 81, creator of this miniature carnival, started this hobby as a young boy, “I was born right across from Mason County Fairgrounds, where Wendy’s is (now). I grew up there, and it was during the (Great) Depression. So, there was no money to buy the rides,” Genter said. The carnival was donated to the fair association in accordance with Ray’s requests that the model remain on permanent display. “As far as crafting goes — just a second,” said Ray, who bent over and fixed a striped flag so it was upright. “I try to have everything perfect.” Ray and his wife, Sharon, married in 1969. Ray was a florist then. After, he became a shrine clown, performed magic tricks for children at preschool and could ride a unicycle. 47 years. The two have lived on “You’ve got a lot of hisDuck Lake in Whitehall for tory to learn,” said Sharon
The WMFA board of directors will host an official unveiling and dedication of Ray Genter’s miniature carnival Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m., in the Mason County Fairgrounds Community Center.
MITCH GALLOWAY | DAILY NEWS
West Michigan Fair Association President Mike Stakenas, left, and Ray and Sharon Genter will hold a special ceremony to celebrate the dedication of the miniature carnival at the Mason County Fair. In the 1980s, Ray Genter owned a traveling carnival called Great Lakes Amusements.
with a smile. Ray calls Sharon his partner.” Ray Genter’s first display
SWICK
took more than 20 years to complete, and he accumulated 15,000 miniatures.
The display has 127 rides, 74 shows and 275 concession stands. It covers 17 tables. Now on exhibit at the International Independence Showmen’s Association in Gibsonton, Florida, Ray’s first model as been appraised at $78,000. His latest model — valued at $25,000 — will be shown at the Mason County Fairgrounds Aug. 9 to Aug. 13. The fair association board of directors will host an official unveiling and dedication of Ray’s miniature carnival in the Community Center on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. during this year’s fair. Ray owns a flower shop with Sharon, Flowers by Ray and Sharon in Muskegon, where his children now run the family business. During the 1980s, he worked for eight years as the owner of the Great
Lakes Amusement with his son, Rick. He received the Michigan Floral Association’s 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, the flower business’s highest honor. “There are going to put a sealer over this, a fiber glass or glass (material) on top of it, so it doesn’t gather dust,” Ray said. “Some of the pieces are part of kits, some I make from scratch. What I do is with the kits — they are very mediocre — and then I improve them and do all kinds of things. It’s on permanent display. They are glued in. The other model is in Gibsonton where thousands of people see it. It’s the biggest model carnival around. I want people to enjoy what I did, and they tell there is a lot to it.” mitch@ludingtondailynews.com (231) 843-1122 x348
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
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| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
H 4 ute l a S
4-H is America’s largest youth development organization Since 4-H began more than 100 years ago, it has become the nation’s largest youth development organization. The 4-H idea is simple: help young people and their families gain the skills needed to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy. 4-H empowers young people to be true leaders. True leaders are young people who have confidence; know how to work well with others; can endure
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through challenges; and will stick with a job until it gets done. 4-H programs hands-on approach gives young people guidance, tools and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. 4-H is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, sci-
ence, agriculture and citizenship, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Today, 4-H serves youth in rural, urban, and suburban communities in every state across the nation. 4-H’ers are tackling the nation’s top issues, from global food security, climate change and sustainable energy to childhood obesity and food safety. 4-H outof-school programming, in-school
enrichment programs, clubs and camps also offer a wide variety of STEM opportunities – from agricultural and animal sciences to rocketry, robotics, environmental protection and computer science – to improve the nation’s ability to compete in key scientific fields and take on the leading challenges of the 21st century. Come to the Western Michigan Fair, August 9-13 to see what our local 4-H members have accomplished.
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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/WESTERN MICHIGAN FAIR
| THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016
The Western Michigan Fair Association Would Like to Thank the Following for their Contributions to these Community Programs... Back Packs Full of School Supplies to be given out Kids Day, Wednesday August 10 at 4:30pm Knollview Stables • Staples • Lowes • Mason County 4H Sue & Brian Cheney Family • Silver Spurs 4H Club Quick Way Inc.• Little Caesars • Boots & Bling It’s A 4H Thing Couturier Blueberry Farms • Danny V Lenz-Balder Insurance The Read for Rides Program Sponsors Supplied Free Ride Tickets & Free Books Patricia Forman-Yolich • Jeffrey C. Nellis - Judge Pennies from Heaven Foundation Harborfront Financial Group • Urka Auto Center Mason County Family Events T.J. Schmidt & Company
Ronald McDonald, sponsored by the Western Michigan Fair in Cooperation with McDonalds of Ludington. Ronald will be giving away Free Fry Coupons Thursday August 11 from 3-5pm Mason County Fairgrounds Located on US-10 between Ludington and Scottville www.masoncountyfairgrounds • 231-843-8563