Marquette County Fair Featured in the New York Times

It seems to be more and more common to see the Upper Peninsula featured in major publications and pop culture. I’m always happy to report when the Upper Peninsula gets some national attention. Though I think it makes most Yoopers nervous, because what makes the Upper Peninsula what it is the lack of people (as Eric mentions), and we don’t want many more moving to the U.P.

Today, the Marquette County Fair was featured in the New York Times. Reporter Dan Barry features a weekly column on Mondays titled This Land where he discovers the “obscure and well-known corners of the United States”. Barry talks about the baking competitions for cupcakes, pies, doughnuts, sweet rolls, cookies, and breads.

Where the Competition Is Stiff but Sweet

The pies wait. So do the cookies and cupcakes, the doughnuts and the sweet rolls, the yeast breads and quick breads and breads made with fruit. All competing for ribbons of Olympian distinction; all awaiting the arrival of judges with knives to cut the tension.

“Entries are open to the world,” say the rules of the Marquette County Fair. They also say those entries have to be in by 8 this evening, so that all judging can be completed by tomorrow’s official opening, when people rush to the display case to see who won what with what.

But look at the time: 8:30 already, with the Upper Peninsula sky turning the color of overcooked blueberries. The exhibition hall is all but deserted, and the judges are nowhere to be — wait! Cars have just pulled up outside!

–Dan Barry