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"I think we ought to advertise if and see if we can get some people to play in it," board member Joe Variot said. "You need to make it known that we are going to do it."

Variot also suggested the board might want to solicit advertising for the event through the fund raising committee, after members learned of the recent cut in state funding.

"You can even give out both my home number and my cell phone number," Variot said. "We need to get this thing rolling."

If the battle fell through, Variot also suggested the possibility of having a talent show during the fair, planned this year for Aug. 9- 11 at Craven Park.

"I really think a battle of the bands will work," he continued. "There is a wide array of music in this county and we need to provide them a place to play."

4-H members attending the meeting said they would assist in the project by placing fliers in the East Jordan and Boyne City areas, adding there were lots of bands in that area.

"We need to put this out and the best way to put this out is to get it in the paper," Variot said.

Those interested in participating in the event can call Variot at 231-584-3363 (home) or 231-881-0195 (cell).

In other business, members:

* Tabled a decision on improvements to a judge's area until the June meeting, in hopes the state budget problems will be resolved. Variot presented a quote of $2,284 for a concrete slab, electricity and just a roof over the top. The judge's stand was removed after the fair last year due to the fact it was in poor condition.

* Agreed to solicit additional bids for the fair premium book, which lists the different classes and entry rules for the 2007 event, to be held Aug 9-11. The fair is in the process of possibly establishing their own Web subsite and are considering doing a hard cover and newsprint pages for the inside to save on costs. In order to expedite the process, a committee consisting of treasurer Gloria Campbell, board member Donna White and president Teresa Cole.

* Moved that members must be 9 years old by Jan. 1 of the current year to show junior calves at the fair and 12 years old to show steers at the fair.

"We need a rule for the fair that kind of blankets everything," Variot said. "Let's not get mixed up in the 4-H rules."

* Learned the next meeting will be June 6 at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds, weather permitting.