Saginaw County Fair

10/16/2026

🍂🎨 Create now. Exhibit later.
This week’s is a reminder that some of next summer’s Fair entries might be created right now.
Fall brings plenty of inspiration — colorful trees, changing leaves, pumpkins, sunsets and those little scenes that make you want to stop and create.
So pull out the watercolors, pencils, paints, sketchbook or whatever you enjoy creating with and make something!
You don’t have to decide today whether it’s a “Fair entry.” Create because you enjoy it, save the pieces you’re proud of, and when it’s time for the 2027 Saginaw County Fair, you may discover you already have something you’d love to exhibit. ❤️
And don’t forget our young artists! A cool or rainy fall afternoon is the perfect opportunity for kids to create something of their own, too.
🎨 What are you creating this fall?

10/09/2026

🧶 Fair Friday: What are you making this fall? 🍂

Cooler days, colorful leaves, and a cozy project on the needles — fall is a pretty good time to start creating something for next year’s Saginaw County Fair!

Whether you knit, crochet, quilt, sew, embroider, paint, bake, preserve, garden, photograph, craft, or create in another way, there’s a place for your talents in our Still Exhibits.

And you don’t have to be an expert! The Fair is about sharing what you’ve made, trying something new, and carrying on the skills and traditions that have been passed from one generation to the next. ❤️

Already thinking about what you might enter in 2027?

👉 If you’re interested in exhibiting at the Saginaw County Fair, send us a message! We’ll have you fill out a little information so we can notify you when the 2027 Premium Book is available and you can see all of the classes you can enter.

Maybe that project you’re working on right now will be hanging in the Still Exhibit building next summer! 🧶🎨🪡📸🌻

10/02/2026

🍂 The leaves are starting to change — and this week's is your reminder to keep your camera handy!
Some of the best Fair entries aren't made the week before the Fair. They're captured throughout the year.
Over the next few weeks, Michigan will be putting on quite a show. Whether it's colorful trees, a country road, a fall sunset, wildlife, or an unexpected view you happen to notice — take the picture. 📸
You never know which photograph might become a favorite... or even a 2027 Saginaw County Fair entry!
So this fall, slow down, look around — and don't forget to look up. 🍁
What do you love photographing most in the fall?

09/30/2026

💵 2026 EXHIBITORS — CHECK THOSE CHECKS!
Still have your Saginaw County Fair premium check sitting around?
Now is the time to get it cashed!

Please cash or deposit your 2026 premium check as soon as possible. Outstanding checks need to be cleared so we can finish wrapping up the 2026 Fair year.
Important: An uncashed premium check is not considered a donation back to the Fair.

🐮 Livestock exhibitors: Your premium checks must be cashed by December 15, 2026.

Check that wallet, desk drawer, refrigerator door, or wherever your Fair check may have landed — and get it to the bank! 😉

Thank you for helping us close out another great Fair year! 🎡

09/25/2026

Fair connections don’t always end when Fair Week does. ❤️

We loved seeing this story from the CAER Center of Chesaning — especially because there’s a Saginaw County Fair connection behind it!

Anne Bales, our Home Arts & Culinary Superintendent, and her husband Greg learned about CAER’s Birthday Party Kit program while visiting the CAER booth at the Fair. They took that idea back to the Merrill Community Lions Club, and recently delivered Birthday Party Kits to help make birthdays a little more special for families served by the CAER Food Pantry. 🎂

It’s a wonderful reminder that so many of the people who give their time and talents to make the Saginaw County Fair possible are also busy serving their own communities throughout the year.

And sometimes, connections made at the Fair turn into something that continues giving long after Fair Week is over.

Thank you, Anne and Greg, the Merrill Community Lions Club, and CAER Center of Chesaning for all you do for our communities! ❤️

That’s community. And that’s what county fairs are all about.

Anne Bales holds two of three Birthday Party kits that she delivered to the CAER Food Pantry on behalf of the Merrill Community Lions Club. She and her husband Greg learned of the CAER Food Pantry Birthday Kits program at the CAER at the FAIR booth.
The kits each contain a boxed cake mix, canned frosting, a 10oz can of lemon line soda to replace the usual eggs and oil in the recipe, candles plates, cups, utensils, and something fun like party blowers or a birthday pin. The kits are given to our Food Pantry clients and are very much appreciated. Our thanks to go out to the Merrill Lions Club!

Anyone can donate kits. Contact the Food Pantry and we will give you a list with all the information you need to make them.

09/22/2026

Sometimes it takes seeing the Fair through someone else's eyes to remind us just how special it really is. ❤️

This year, we had the pleasure of welcoming Fr. Vincent Oguejiofor — or, as he signed his reflection, “Your new priest in town” — to the Saginaw County Fair for the very first time.

Coming from Nigeria, his idea of a “fair” was shaped by the enormous Lagos International Trade Fair — a very different experience from a county fair in Mid-Michigan.

During his day with us, Fr. Vincent explored the barns and exhibits, learned more about our agricultural community and the work of our young exhibitors, and even served as one of our pie judges. 🥧

Afterward, he wrote a reflection about his experience titled “From Lagos to the Saginaw County Fair: Discovering the Heart of a Community.”

And there was one observation in particular that we couldn't help but love:

“Coming from Nigeria, I thought a fair was simply a place to buy things.
The Saginaw County Fair taught me that a fair is really a place to celebrate people.”

❤️ That is the Saginaw County Fair.

The animals, exhibits, ribbons, food and events are certainly part of it — but generation after generation, it's the people who make this Fair what it is.

Thank you, Fr. Vincent, for spending the day with us and for sharing such a thoughtful perspective on our Fair, our farmers and our community.

Swipe through to read Fr. Vincent's full reflection. ➡️

09/18/2026

🍅 Fair Friday thought: Could one of the jars you're putting up this fall be wearing a ribbon next summer?

It’s canning and preserving season! From tomatoes and pickles to salsa, jams, jellies and more, kitchens across Saginaw County are busy putting up this year’s harvest.

As you fill those jars, keep the 2027 Saginaw County Fair in mind. What you're making today could inspire one of next year's Fair entries!

And if you've never exhibited before, don't let all those ribbons intimidate you — there's always a first time to enter. ❤️ Sign up here to get more information! https://forms.gle/zwXPA17rFMCJc4bi8

🥒🍅 What are you canning or preserving this year? Tell us in the comments!

Maybe we'll see one of your jars in the Exhibit Hall next summer. 😉

09/16/2026

The Saginaw County Fair family is saddened by the passing of our longtime volunteer and friend, Keith Valentine. ❤️

Keith was an integral part of the Saginaw County Fair for more than 25 years, volunteering with us since the Fair moved to Chesaning in 2001. His dedication extended beyond Fair Week through his service to the Saginaw County Agricultural Society, and he became a familiar and beloved face within both the Fair and the Chesaning community.

For so many in our community, Keith was one of those special people who had a way of making you feel remembered. He knew your name, greeted you when he saw you, and for many Fair families, seeing Keith each year was simply part of being at the Saginaw County Fair.

Year after year, Keith gave his time not only to the Fair, but to the community he cared so much about.

Last October, we had the privilege of celebrating Keith when he received the 2025 Chesaning Community Service Award, recognizing his service, dedication, and unwavering love for the community. Looking back, we're especially grateful to have this photo from that evening — Keith surrounded by friends and proudly wearing his Saginaw County Fair shirt.

The Fair is built on people like Keith — people who show up, lend a hand, welcome others, and over the years become part of the traditions and memories that make this place so special.

We are incredibly grateful for the many years Keith shared with the Saginaw County Fair, the Saginaw County Agricultural Society, and our community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.

His familiar face, warm greeting, and many years of service will certainly be missed. ❤️

We invite our Fair family to join us in remembering Keith and to read his obituary here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/keith-valentine-obituary?id=62419944

09/15/2026

From Saginaw County Homemaker of the Year… to Michigan Homemaker of the Year! 🏆❤️

We are incredibly excited to congratulate Rebecca Yager, our 2025 Saginaw County Fair Homemaker of the Year, on being named the 2026 Michigan Homemaker of the Year!

Rebecca earned the opportunity to represent the Saginaw County Fair at the state level after winning our county title last year. At the Michigan competition, she shared not only her talents, but the many ways she gives back to her community.

Rebecca serves as head coach for White Pine Middle School robotics, mentors Heritage High School robotics, volunteers weekly in the kitchen at the City Rescue Mission, and is a foster care advocate.

And apparently she had a little more winning to do while she was at the Michigan State Fair! 🍪 Rebecca also earned 2nd place in the Michigan Sugar Cookie Baking Contest with her piña colada cookies!

We love seeing one of our Saginaw County Fair exhibitors go on to represent our Fair and community at the state level — and bring the Michigan Homemaker of the Year title home to Saginaw County.

Congratulations, Rebecca! We are so proud to have you representing the Saginaw County Fair and the many talents, skills and spirit of service found right here in our community. ❤️

Please help us congratulate Rebecca in the comments! 👏

09/11/2026

🧵 FAIR FRIDAY: The People Have Spoken! 🏆

During the 2026 Saginaw County Fair, visitors had the chance to cast their votes for their favorite quilt — and these three beautiful entries came out on top!

🥇 1st Place — Jeannie White, #114
Jeannie received a $100 prize donated by Miles of Stitches.

🥈 2nd Place — Ruby Shermanski, #101
Ruby received a $50 prize donated by Creative Passions.

🥉 3rd Place — Clara Martin, #110
Clara received a $25 prize donated by Ideal Quilting.

Take a close look at these quilts — from the incredible detail in Jeannie’s winning piece to the colors, patterns and craftsmanship throughout each entry. We’re always amazed by the talent our exhibitors bring through the gates!

A huge thank you to Miles of Stitches, Creative Passions and Ideal Quilting for supporting our exhibitors and providing this year’s People’s Choice prizes. Community partners like these help make opportunities like this possible. ❤️

And here’s your Fair Friday reminder: the quilts you admire at the Fair don’t just appear there — someone decides to enter them!

If quilting is your thing, we’d love to have your work hanging at the 2027 Saginaw County Fair. Whether you’ve been quilting for years or have never entered something at the Fair before, start thinking about what you might bring next August.

🎡 Maybe next year, the People’s Choice will be yours!

Interested in learning more about exhibiting at the 2027 Saginaw County Fair? Whether you’re a longtime exhibitor or considering entering for the very first time, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Fill out our 2027 Exhibitor Interest Form: https://forms.gle/xFVNAKqgMm2tuWDw9

Filling out the form doesn’t commit you to entering — it simply helps us connect with people who would like more information as we begin preparing for 2027.

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