Farmers, animal owners, and tractor enthusiasts from all over northern Michigan will descend upon Stalwart this weekend for the "Biggest Little Fair" in the state -- the 104th annual Chippewa County Stalwart Agricultural Fair. The fair will attract horse, goat, poultry, rabbit, and sheep farmers, as well as crafters and crop farmers to the Stalwart Fairgrounds Thursday, September 10, through Saturday, September 12.

A celebration of the Eastern Upper Peninsula's agricultural heritage, it is a traditional farm fair and does not include carnival activities.

Organizer Penny Belinski said she expects up to 175 agricultural exhibits and animals to be entered into the fair, and more than 1,000 spectators to attend.

" Maybe a little more. Hopefully a little more," she said. She is concerned that high gas prices and the sluggish economy will deter people from coming, but remains optimistic that attendance will be up.

Farmers and animal owners will gather at the Stalwart Fair Exhibit Hall Thursday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. to register their animals, crops, and exhibits. The fairgrounds are on M-48, about seven miles southeast of Pickford.

Animal and exhibit judging will begin Friday at 8 a.m., with horse judging starting at 10 a.m., and livestock at 2 p.m. Weigh-in for the overweight horse pull teams, under 4,100 pounds, will start at 3 p.m. at Pickford Feed Service on North Pleasant Road, with the competition beginning at 7 p.m.

The multiple types of horse pulls draw big crowds, Ms. Belinski said. She expects most horse teams to come from the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula.

"It's what the people come to see. That's really the big thing," she said. "We have quite a few entries. A lot of them are close by, but some of them come from far away."

Organizer Marc Johnson said he expects about 20 different horse teams to enter into the overweight, heavyweight, and barefoot horse-pull events. Teams come from as far away as Ohio, Indiana, and Canada.

A pet show is also scheduled for Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

Saturday will feature speed and action events, including a horseshoe competition at noon, garden tractor pull at 12:30 p.m., a barefoot horse pull, in which the horses do not wear horseshoes, at 3 p.m., and more heavyweight horse pulls at 5 p.m.

A youth livestock competition, including sheep and dairy animals, will be judged Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Children younger than 10 years old will also be able to jump and enjoy a bounce-house provided by the Pickford Township Fire Department, as well as other games starting at 3:30 p.m. The fire department will also have some firefighting equipment on display and answer children's questions regarding its operation.

Inside the Exhibit Hall will be a multitude of antique exhibits, from old farm equipment to fragile dishes. Some of the larger exhibits will be displayed outside the building.

"It can be any type of antique," Ms. Belinski said. "Most [exhibitors] come from the EUP. We do get people from out of town, too, but I'd say the majority are from this area."

Lunches and meals will be served at the fairgrounds and at the Stalwart Presbyterian Church next to the fairgrounds.

General admission to the fair is $4 for adults, $3 for students, and free for children younger than five. There is no charge on Thursday when animals and materials are registered.

For more information about the fair, contact Penny Belinski at 647-2611.