Logging a combined 2,000 hours of kid power, volunteers with local 4-H groups have spruced up the Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds.
Six work bees since April have brought nearly 600 kids to the site over the months to rake, shovel, sweep, paint, clean and do whatever needed doing. Volunteers from the Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau 4-H groups also helped install bleacher seats in the new grandstands.
The final work bee was held on Sunday, a last hurrah before the intensity of the fair activities take hold later this week. The stew of organized chaos harnessed the energy of more than 100 kids for a range of chores that made the grounds immaculate — or as close as possible.
"It's really nice walking in and seeing how beautiful and knowing how hard you worked at it," said Kirsten Robinson, 16, a member of the Long Lake Live Stock 4-H group who will show a steer at this year's fair. "You feel a sense of accomplishment."
Fair Board president Brent Edgecomb praised the volunteer efforts, noting that the 4-H members are doing work that otherwise might never be done.
"The work bees have been a huge help and it saves us a lot of time and gives [the kids] an appreciation for the fairgrounds," he said. "Without them, some things just wouldn't get done, we'd just not get to it."
The work bees began last year when Darrell Robinson decided to tap the 4-H kids for help. The vice president of the Livestock Council, which oversees the animals shown and sold at the fair, Robinson implemented a policy that every kid who wanted to show in the fair had to contribute at least two hours of volunteer time. He set up six different time slots for participants, varying it from weekday evenings to weekend times so everyone could find a spot. Prior to that, the kids helped out one evening in June, which did not allow enough time to finish the to-do list.
"The whole fair is a volunteer association and you can't expect the 15-member Fair Board to do everything," said Robinson, also the one of the leaders of the Long Lake Live Stock 4-H group. "The 4-H groups are doing the stuff that the Fair Board can't do."
Many volunteers came for more than one session, pitching in extra hours willingly. Each work bee averaged 100 participants, Robinson noted, with all family members helping out.
"You have your families that come and say they enjoyed it and that it gets them in the mood to come out here," he said. "The parents really help a lot, too."
This year the fairgrounds will introduce 133 new campsites that will alleviate the overcrowding of the increasingly popular campground. In addition, the grounds will sport a new grandstand and the main entrance to the fair has been relocated to bring visitors more immediately into the activities.
Last year the fair drew 38,000 visitors and organizers hope to match or exceed that number, maybe even duplicating a high of 40,000 a few years ago.
"With all the improvements and the new layout and new guest-friendly atmosphere, we're hoping that people get more enjoyment," said Edgecomb, who travels to other fairs over the summer to bring home ideas. "And the campers, that's just as much the fair as the animals or the carnival. There's so many families that come and get together, it's just a fun-filled week."
The Northwestern Michigan Fair opens this Sunday and runs through Saturday next week. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.