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The conference was held at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. Five Kalkaska County Fair board members attended the event. The book was judged on overall theme, easy to read format and user friendliness, according to Dawn Dunham, treasurer of the Kalkaska County Fair board.

"The fair board knew we had a good thing going,"Dunham said this past Monday. "It was nice to be recognized for it.

"The book was totally redone this past year. Terri Sibole (board secretary) joined the board last year and made it her priority to go over the book.Ó

Sibole said she deleted old information, added models and kits for scrap booking and added classes. The cover design was done by local student, Lydia Thompson.

The theme of the 2007 Kalkaska County Fair was "Blue Jeans and Children's Dreams.Ó

Jill Vyverberg, of JMW Designs in Kalkaska, was contracted to put the book together for the third year in a row.

"It's been a pleasure to work with the fair board and I look forward to doing the fair book for many years to come,"Vyverberg said. While at the MAFE conference in Grand Rapids, board members attended sessions to learn how to improve the fair. They also secured Schmidt Amusements to bring their carnival to Kalkaska.

"It is a real tribute to the hard work and dedication of board members that a fair of our size was able to secure Schmidt Amusements,"Dunham said. "Especially, in light of the increased challenges of the amusement industry, like fuel costs, insurance overhead and increasing competition.Ó Dunham said that Schmidt Amusements is a family-owned business and the fair board is very excited to be working with the company.

"They're very excited to be coming to Kalkaska,"she said. "They'll be offering every student, K through five in Kalkaska County a free ride ticket.Ó

Dunham said that there will advance tickets available and that more details will come, as the fair draws near.

She added that there are two vacancies on the fair board and that the board always is looking for volunteers. The board meets every last Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the fair office, next to the Kalkaska County Civic Center.

Anyone interested in volunteering or serving as a board member should call Sibole at 231-369-3218.