Animals of all kinds, carnival rides, a circus, fun food, pirates, exhibits and contests galore will all be part of the fun for both kids and adults at the Oakland County Fair, July 4-13 at Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg.
Behind the scenes making sure the fair runs smoothly are volunteers who know the importance of the event for not only children involved in 4-H, but for all Oakland County children and adults who choose to enter various contests or simply attend and enjoy all that is offered for free or at a low cost.
Brigitte Todd of Groveland Township wears many fair hats? as board director, exhibit hall chair, volunteer chair, and technology chair, and works full-time hours in preparation and execution of the event from the middle of May until its conclusion. She has been involved with the Oakland County Fair and the 4-H Club since 2000.
‘I was looking for things to get my kids involved in,? said Todd, the mother of Danielle, now 24, Erika, 19, and Faith, 12. ‘My neighbor said 4-H was the best thing her kids ever did? better than organized team sports or other activities. Kids learn character building traits in 4-H, how to deal with people and animals, and lots of different stuff.?
Her youngest child continues to compete in 4-H, while Erika helps her mother with volunteer efforts. Brigitte plans to make sure fair visitors have a great time, as well as ensuring volunteers are happy and want to return.
Sharon Ashton, co-owner of Ashton Orchards with her husband, Dennis, will be superintendent of food and nutrition at the fair for the second year in a row, securing the volunteers who will judge children’s projects in those areas. The 13 different food and nutrition categories include pies, cakes, candy, breads, main meals, hors d’oeuvres, jams/jellies/preserves, and homemade pasta. All food must be made from scratch, with no packaged cake mixes for example.
‘It’s an honor for me to do this,? said Sharon, who will also oversee the Yesteryears Tractor Rodeo at fair and assist with the bottomless glasses of chocolate milk, as well as the senior breakfast. ‘I was raised in 4-H from the time I was old enough to join. 4-H is a fabulous thing that people should investigate. I’m a proud backer of 4-H and happy to do whatever they ask me to do.?
Ashton has selected judges with knowledge in different food areas. They can judge not only by taste, but also presentation and various criteria, including whether jam is overprocessed (too dark) or pies are too runny, with not enough thickener. They offer constructive criticism to participants. This year, she said, there are roughly 100 entries in the food categories.
‘It’s a big thing for these kids and it gets them involved in more than just texting and computers,? said Ashton, who notes there are many other categories too at fair, including plant science, photography, poultry, dairy, pigs and more? a boatload of activities for kids and adults.
Todd agrees.
‘Oakland County Fair is open to everyone, you don’t have to be a member of 4-H to attend or to enter competition and you don’t have to have animals,? she said. ‘You can do rockets, and kites, and art, website design, Legos, all kinds of fun stuff that is not animal-related.?
While she noted the deadline for registering for fair contests is roughly June 1 every year, she invites all children and adults to come check out this year’s fair, scouting competition and enjoying the fun.
For more information on events and times during the fair, visit oakfair.org.

The Oakland County Fair has a long history with various locations? the fair dates back to the 1860s when troops were trained in Pontiac for the Civil War.
The fair moved around, but in 1947 became the Oakland County 4H Fair and was located on Perry Street in Pontiac until 1971 when it moved to Springfield Township where it remains. The 4H was dropped as part of the name a decade ago, but the club, with many members from Brandon and Groveland townships, remains an integral part of the fair that celebrates agriculture, youth, and fun.
This year’s Oakland County Fair is July 3-12 at Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road. Fair General Manager LC Scramlin said attendees can expect all the same favorite exhibits they have come to expect, but with new projects.
‘We have about 600 exhibitors, everything from cows and pigs to tech, computers, photography, we cover the whole range,? he said. ‘Art, sewing, all kinds of different 4H projects, most are in the historic Ellis Barn… Almost everyday we’ll have a horse show… We can’t have live chickens at the fair this year because of bird flu, but the kids are taking pictures and chickens will be judged off pics. It’s not the most accurate, but the best we can do. The chickens are healthy, but the state vet decided to be safe, best to keep birds at home.?
Also returning to the fair will be the ever popular Miracle of Birth barn, with new calves and piglets expected. A carnival every day of the event is provided by Big Rock Amusement of Chesney with about 30 rides for all ages, including a new swingset ride that takes kids 105 feet up into the air. Nightly grandstand events include figure 8 races, off road derby, superkicker rodeo, night of destruction, and monster trucks. Free daily events includes Circus Pages with camels, elephants and tigers; Globe of Death (motorcycles in a cage), racing pigs, an exotic petting zoo, and returning after a hiatus of a dozen years is the Great Lakes Timber Show? a lumberjack show which will feature log rolls in a large water tank, ax throwing and chainsaw carving.
Scramlin is hoping for a good turnout for the fair.
‘The last couple years we were fortunate and had more than 100,000 people in attendance,? he said. ‘We aim for that because that is how we keep the fair going… We’ve had super support the last few years by the community and a great bunch of sponsors. We are based on tradition and agriculture is still the basis of a lot of the fair and that has been important to the community for a long time. It’s amazing the number of kids we turn out that do great things. Sometimes we’re not teaching them to be farmers, but to set a goal, be responsible to completing a project, and work together. It prepares them for a lot of things in life.?
Fair admission is $10 per vehicle; $5 admission for walk-ins; $5 per motorcycle. Carnival and grandstand events