ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – One of the biggest aspects of the U.P. State Fair is the animals. All week long, students from local farms and in 4-H programs are preparing to present their cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and other creatures to judges.
13-year-old Kiara Grondine of Grondine’s Cool Acres Farm has been bringing cows to the U.P. State Fair since she was 3.
“With the family farm, every year we come to the fair and we like to show, which usually occurs on Thursdays,” she said. “There’s a bunch of different classes that kids can do, like pewee classes, costume classes. It’s really fun to take the cows out.”
There are various types of cattle throughout the fair. Kiara’s are registered Holstein dairy cows, which require a bit of extra care.
“We milk them every morning and night,” she explained.
Kiara has a lot on her plate in the days leading up to the showings.
“We have to get all their show stuff ready, clip them—which is just like shaving them, clipping their fur like they’re a dog,” she said. “Also, just kind of washing them and getting all of the stains off them, especially their white parts, which get stained very easily. Then bringing the hay for them to eat, bringing the straw for them to lay on, and keeping their area clean so they don’t get dirty.”
At the showings, humans are judged on that preparation. The cows are judged on their physical characteristics.
“Things like their back, their udder–their bag—and how full it is,” said Kiara. “With the younger cows, it’s just showing off them and making sure they are a nice-looking cow and just going out there for fun.”
In her decade of U.P. State Fairs, Kiara has learned a lot about caring for and showing dairy cows. She believes others can, too.
“Just how to be grateful for what you’re given, how to work hard for what you get, and that family is really important,” she said.
The full schedule of animal showings is posted around the fairgrounds and can be found at upstatefair.net. WZMQ 19 is a proud Reserve Champion Sponsor of the 2025 U.P. State Fair.
