Ever Seen A Horse Pull? You Really Should Check It Out!

Horse pulling is a draft horse competition where horses in harness, usually one or two animals, pull a stone-boat or weighted sled and the winner is the team or animal that can pull the most weight for a short distance. 

At the Hemlock Fair, the pairs of horses wait along the exterior fence of the arena, creating a spectacular view of the teams. The fans line up early along the rectangular arena and eventually fill the stands to watch the event, that has become a premier show during fair week. “I like seeing the horse pulls as much as anything at the fair,” fans can be heard saying while watching the event. Rural community fairs, like the Hemlock "Little World's" Fair, have a soft spot in its heart for horses.”

There are different weight classes and strict rules to avoid animal cruelty. The Belgian horse is the breed most frequently seen, but other draft breeds are also used. There are also competitions for ponies, where they pull significant weight relative to their size, but usually for shorter distances than full-sized horses. The sport of horse pulling originated when horses were still used for daily farm work. Farmers would challenge one another to see whose horse or team could pull the most weight. Since then, horse pulling has evolved into an organized sport with teams of equine athletes. Horses that are used for horse pulling are generally not used for work on the farm. Instead, they are worked regularly to keep their muscles and tendons strong and limber to prevent them from being hurt during competitions. 
A starting load is set on the weight sled, a weight that most teams are expected to be able to pull. Each team entered in the competition is hitched to the sled and they would pull it for a short distance. If the team can not pull the weight, they are removed from the competition and those that successfully pulled the weight continue on to the next round. The competition continues on in this way until only one team of horses remains. Rules and regulations are in place to protect the safety of the horses during competitions. If you have never seen a horse pull, check it out on Wednesday night at the Hemlock Fair.

It's Getting Close to Demolition Derby Time at the Hemlock Fair!

A Demolition Derby is 80% luck, 20% car and driver. It is an event where cars prepare to slam into one another, careening around the derby pit, and smashing into every vehicle in sight. The roar of gunning engines, spray of mud and clash of twisted metal on wheels punctuate every Tuesday and Saturday night at the Hemlock Fair. As fenders are ripped off, tires shredded and chassis violently rearranged, spectators in the packed grandstands howl with approval. Our drivers think they build a pretty good car, but if something stupid happens and you get hung up right away, you're done. It's a chance every driver takes.

Competitors slam into one another during our Fair's Demolition Derby, cars can lose a wheel, take a hard hit and still limp on and make it through the heat. A loose fender, stuck in a corner, a car that's dying, that is what makes a perfect hitting opportunity for the other driver! A full-speed assault by a car can send another into the concrete barrier, disabling it and ending it's chance to advance! The crowd whoops and hollers as the tow trucks are sent in to retrieve the cars that can't make it out of the pit on their own. A demolition derby is not a tidy affair. At the height of a heat, the air is pungent with exhaust fumes and mud clods are flying into the crowd.

Our competitors are not playing! That's what we call a demolition derby! It's a thrilling sight to watch these cars plow into each other. Several spectacular collisions can bring the capacity crowd in the grandstands to their feet every time! The Demolition Derby feature heat at the end of the night brings together the winning drivers whose cars remain operational after the qualifying heats.

If you are a veteran or a newbie, it's time to get your application for this seasons Demolition Derby in! Follow this link to the rules and application.

For a list of all events at the Fair, click here.

Everyone has a Talent, Sign-up for the Talent Show today!

It's time to get your applications in for this year's talent show at the Hemlock "Little World's" Fair! Last year was seriously amazing and we have some wonderful gifted acts that loved to entertain! We are looking for acts to show us your stuff, for a chance to claim victory and win some money! You can work together or be a solo act to share your talents - singing, playing an instrument, martial arts, dancing, jumping rope, jokes, magic tricks, or anything that impresses your family and friends! Want to sign up for the talent show, but you just are not sure you have a talent? Everyone has a talent!

Don't know what yours is? Ask your family and friends what you're good at, sometimes it is something that you're not aware of. You can also find inspiration for a talent show act by watching YouTube videos, popular acts on TV talent shows, or watch sketch comedy. See what works and what doesn't for you! Be sure you pick a talent that you are good at. Anything from dancing, to singing, to juggling is great, even stand-up comedy or acting is good. Anything in between too, as long as you're good at it. Pick the thing that you're the best at; after all, you'll need to be talented if you want to win. You can do a solo act or create a group. If you go with a group, make sure that everyone is comfortable with the act you choose. If you pick your group before you pick your act, take some time to figure out what each member's strengths are, and base your act around everyone. Remember, you will need to practice your act every day. When you think you've practiced enough, practice some more. Do a dress rehearsal. This will iron any kinks out of the show, and give everyone in your group a taste of performing in front of an audience. On the day of the show, dress for the occasion. Costumes, even simple ones, will make a big impact. Work the crowd. Even if you have stage fright, know how to work the crowd. Smile and make eye contact with the crowd and judges. If you're singing or doing stand-up, move around the stage. Do not shy away from the microphone, speak into it loudly and clearly. Wave when you come out, and bow when you're finished. Be as creative and original as you can! Put your personality in it! Choose some great music, or a great song. Make sure you pick one that will grab the audience's attention! A catchy, up-beat song will keep the audience and judges from losing interest. It's more important than you think. Don't be upset if you don't win. There's always next year, and if you start practicing now you'll be amazing by the time another talent show comes around! Once one door closes, another door opens. Smile and have fun! It doesn't matter if you don't win. Do it for yourself. For more information, visit our web site at Hemlock Fair - Talent Show!

Time Does Fly!

Wow, time sure does fly ... I can't believe that it has been four days since I have last posted. We have had two work nights since our last blog. What has been happening on the fair grounds .....

At our work nite on Tuesday, there was more work on the 4H building interior, pre-sale ticket packages were prepared, grass seed was planted and work on the drainage improvements continued. The water main shed was completed. The "Gate Girls" were there working on getting their "crew" secured and ready for the big event! The floors in the festival building were cleaned and the building was readied for the next event. We even had a turtle rescue and relocation. Tuesday dinner provided to all volunteers after the work is fine was sloppy joe sliders, coleslaw, beans and banana bars! Yum, yum, yum!

Wednesday involved mowing, weed wacking and radio station promotional ticket packages were prepared and mailed. While there is always something going on at the fairgrounds, there are more fair volunteers that are working from home on seeking vendors or going business to business soliciting for sponsorship. Since we are a not-for-profit organization, we rely on a great deal on the spirit of volunteerism and the generous donations of local businesses and citizens!

We had another work night on Thursday. It was well attended and a great deal was accomplished!  All the mowing is currently caught
up! We continued to whack the weeds where the mowers can't reach! The parents of our local high school seniors begand the set up of their senior nite! Our volunteers moved benches, antique wagons, removed tattered wood from bleachers and more wall work in the 4H building.

Activity at the fairgrounds was pretty quite during the day! We spent the day working on a surprise!    Around noon, the parents and volunteers of the seniors from Livonia High School ascended on the fairgrounds to finish the setting up for the Senior Fun Nite! Later in the afternoon, the gardening group came to finish up their sprucing up the gazebo area with planters and bushes! It is really taking shape! Around 6pm the busses arrived with the seniors! The Senior class certainly seemed to enjoy their party with live music, games, prizes and a bonfire. They boarded the busses just before 10 pm and headed back to the high school for a fanominal fireworks display!

A few busy days at the Fairgrounds

Here is what we have accomplished or has happened on the fairgrounds in the last few days ... Thursday night we had a work night, about 12 fair board members and volunteers came to work. We are working on building a new cover over our water main, removing the plastic from the open barns, mowing grass, racking the longer cut grass, hanging new building signs, putting up new wall covering in another wing of the 4H building and building more

picnic tables. After our work nights are done, we feed our volunteers. So while many volunteers are working outside someone is inside slaving over a stove or a grill. This Thursday night, we had hot dogs, macaroni salad, beans and cherry cheese cake! On a Friday there was more mowing, meeting with the wedding reception hosts, weed whacking, removing plastic on the barns and work in the 4H building. On Saturday there was a wedding

reception in the Festival building and a 4H horse show in the 4H arena. The new sign was erected on Fair Street and 15A. On Sunday there was cleaning of the operations room in the office and rearranging the kitchen. Monday was a productive day for several volunteers, mowing was accomplished, we pitch forked up piles of the long cut grass, more work in the 4H building, put away the braces and plastic taken off the barns.

This Farmall Tractor is one of the workhorses of the fairgrounds! It is older than some of our fair board members! Tomorrow is another work night, there is plenty to do before the start of the fair! If you are interested in helping, stop on down!

Welcome to the Hemlock "Little World's" Fair

We are a small town Agricultural fair that has been around since 1857. We wanted to share with you what it takes to put on a 5 day fair. Sty tuned ... our fair starts July 15th .... 33 days to go! We will post updates and pictures to show you the transformation and what else takes place on the fair grounds! Find out more information about Hemlock Fair here.