Scenes from the fair

Politicians work the crowd

Most fairgoers liked Thursday’s weather. It was warm, but the wind kept it comfortable.

Not so for the Hill County Democrats. Located right near the entrance most people use, the Dems usually catch the attention of passersby with their colorful signs, posters and sometimes cutouts of their candidates.

This year’s booth looked rather barren.

“The wind blew down our signs,” said Hill County Democratic Chair Brenda Skornogoski.

But a cadre of Democrats was on hand to talk to potential voters and advise them on how to cast their ballot.

The 4-H Queen and Teen

Natalen Kinsella and Michael Compton stood on the floor of the Bigger Better Barn at the Great Northern Fair Thursday.

They were being installed as the Queen and Teen of Hill County 4-H.

They used to have a king and queen, but several years ago, it was decided to drop the king title for the less formal teen name.

As Compton, a 16-year-old Havre High School student, was introduced, someone in the stands said “look at his face turn red,” at which time it grew redder.

The two will represent 4-H and the fair throughout the year.

“It’s an honor to represent 4-H and Hill County,” said Compton, son of Rob and Kelly Compton. He is a member of Sunrise 4-H.

Kinsella, a Havre High senior, said she wants to spread the word about 4-H.

“I just want other kids to have the same great experience I had,” said Kinsella, the daughter of Mike and Heidi Kinsella.

Seniors enjoy the fair

Residents of the Northern Montana Care Center look forward to attending the fair each year, but things didn’t look too upbeat for a while Thursday.

The bus scheduled to taken them from the care center to the fair broke down.

The residents were stranded at the care center.

To the rescue came North Central Montana Transit, which provided a bus the residents took to the fairgrounds.

There were lots of smiles.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” said Arlene Brown as she disembarked from the bus.

She still makes quilts and submitted some for judging this year. She is anxiously awaiting the results.

At 85, Brown said she has been attending the fair for “at least 80 years.”

The best part of the fair is looking at the exhibits “and the things that people submit to be judged,” she said. “I like the homemade things.”

“And I like the scones,” she said.

Dorothy Kinsey said she has been coming to the fair “since 1982, off and on.”

The fair reminds her of her younger days when she attended the fair in her hometown of Hays, she said, leaning on her walker.

Some of the flowers being judged in the contest this year were grown at the care center’s courtyard.

Janet Karbell plants flowers because she likes to see the courtyard look pretty.