For more than 100 years, the Stalwart Fair has celebrated the agricultural heritage of the Eastern Upper Peninsula by hosting displays and competitions involving crafts, food, livestock, and games.

The feeling of the agricultural fair was captured in a contest, won by 10-year-old William Pfeiffer III of Dafter, who designed a cover for this year's fair guide. This year was the first for the contest.

Mr. Pfeiffer's drawing depicts farm animals, clothing, and a duck saying, "Come join the fun!"

"He did a really good job," said Penny Belinski, secretary of the Stalwart Fair Board of Directors of Mr. Pfeiffer's design. The bookcover competition will be continued next year. Submissions for the 2009 fair are due at the fairgrounds this Thursday, September 4, she added.

This year, the Stalwart Fair is Thursday, September 4, through Saturday, September 6.

The event draws crowds that exceed 1,000 people. It is a positive celebration that brings communities together, Ms. Belinski said, and it is especially good for youths who prepare entries all year and learn to work toward a goal.

Highlights include the fair's popular horse pull competitions, in which teams of various classes compete to pull the most weight the greatest distance. Another favorite is the judging of youth livestock, which includes animals entered by children, many of whom participate in 4-H groups, Ms. Belinski said.

Replacing the pony pull this year will be a barefoot horse pull in which the horses do not wear horseshoes.

There will be three horse pulls, including an underweight horse pull Friday, the barefoot pull Saturday, and a heavyweight pull Saturday.

Throughout Friday and Saturday, displays and demonstrations of antique agricultural equipment will take place inside the Stalwart Fair Exhibit Hall and outside on the fairgrounds.

Last year, there were exhibitions of antique milk separating equipment, a shingle mill, a buzzsaw for firewood, a grinder to produce grain for animals, a planer to smooth wood for construction, and many others.

Food will be served on the fairgrounds and at the church, eight miles east of M-128.

Thursday, September 4, is entry day, during which participants enter everything to be shown in the fair from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday, events begin at 8 a.m. with the judging of exhibits at the hall, where displays of quilting, knitting, photography, flowers, and other entries will be examined. It is an exposition competition, although participants may sell goods, Ms. Belinski said.

Horse judging will follow the hall exhibition at 10 a.m., including horses in a variety of classes.

Youth livestock entries will be judged at 2 p.m. Entries will include goats, poultry, rabbits, and sheep. Participants will compete for trophies and cash prizes.

Horses will be weighed at the Pickford elevator from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The pet show follows at 5:30 p.m. Any type of pet is welcome. Children who enter their pets receive tickets for ice cream, Ms. Belinski said.

The lightweight horse pull ends Friday's events. It involves horses weighing less than 4,100 pounds. Cash prizes are offered for the top 10 competitors. First prize is $400, second is $350, and third is $300.

Horse-related speed and action events begin activities Saturday, at 10 a.m., including barrel racing, pole bending, and keyhole competitions for ponies and horses. Afterward, there will be a "down-andback" race.

Cash prizes vary by divisions.

An adult horseshoe competition follows at noon. The winner will receive a trophy.

Small-sized tractors will mimic the horse pulls during the gardentractor pull at 12:30 p.m. Participants and their tractors will compete to drag the maximum amount of weight the greatest distance.

Youth livestock judging continues Saturday, at 1 p.m.

Games for children 10 years old and younger will take place near the hall at 3:30 p.m.

The barefoot horse pull starts at 3 p.m. Saturday. Cash prizes will be offered for first- through 10th place. First place earns $125. Second earns $105. Third earns $95.

The heavyweight horse pull begins at 5 p.m. Prizes are offered for the top 20 competitors. First place earns $400, second earns $350, and third earns $300.

Camping is offered near the back of the fairgrounds for participants and visitors. The cost is $20, regardless of the length of stay. Campers receive two gate passes. There is no water or power at the camp site.

General admission to the Stalwart fair is $3 for adults, $2 for students, and free for pre-school age children. There is no charge on Thursday, when animals and materials are entered. Anyone with an entry for the fair receives a pass, free of charge.

Fair information is available from Ms. Belinski at (906) 647- 2611.