ESCANABA — The U.P. State Fair recently announced the following four appointments to the U.P. State Fair (UPSF) Authority Board:

≤ Matt Jensen was elected by the Delta County Commission as its representative on the UPSF Authority. Jensen was also elected Chair by the Fair Authority at its Jan. 31st meeting. “Like most people, my early experience with the Fair was as a young exhibitor,” Jensen said. “Later, while in high school, I did some work with the Steam and Gas Village. More recently, I was part of the project to help build the U.P. Military Museum. Last year, I was our first isolation liaison for the Fair, in the advent that we had a sick animal.”

Jensen previously worked as a township supervisor, and is currently the chair of the Delta County Finance Committee, which he says has given him a unique perspective and insight into the budget process. Having retired from the U.S. Army, Jensen says this has given him the ability to work with a variety of people from different backgrounds, and to bring them together to achieve their common goals. Jensen is also a member of the Bay de Noc Lions Club, Delta County Search and Rescue, Ice Rescue, the Rescue Task Force, and the secretary for the U.P. Military Museum.

Jensen says he sees the U.P. State Fair continuing to grow, both during Fair week, as well as during the other weeks of the year. He described his goals as Chair of the Fair Authority: “My first goal is to continue providing amazing learning and entertainment during the Fair itself. My second goal is to update some of our aging infrastructure so that we can continue to enhance the experience of all our visitors throughout the year.”

≤ Linda Talsma, who grew up in Skandia, was elected by the Marquette County Commission as its representative on the Fair Authority. Talsma grew up on a large dairy farm-Bahrman Farm. Her parents, Harold and Arline Bahrman, raised her and her six siblings to be involved in 4-H. This is where her experience with the U.P. State Fair began, when she showed cattle at the Fair. She passed on that tradition, raising her own two children, Phillip and Shelby, in the 4-H program. She has been a board member on the Marquette County Fair Board for over 10 years, and also serves as Livestock Superintendent, a title she shares with her sister-in-law Barb Bahrman. Talsma also works as Marquette County Clerk; she and her husband Martin own a small hobby farm in Skandia. “I have enjoyed volunteering my time with the Marquette County Fair, and I feel I can bring some of my Fair knowledge to this position,” she said. “The U.P. State Fair has been run very efficiently in the past, and I hope to learn where I can fit in and serve in the best possible capacity.”

≤ Craig Kent was recently elected by the Baraga County Board of Commissioners as its representative. Kent has been a County Commissioner for three years, and serves as vice-chairman on that Board. He has served on the L’Anse Township Zoning Board for five years, and has been a member of L’Anse Fire Department for 34 years where he serves as Assistant Chief. He is self- employed as owner of RD Kent Trucking. He also has valuable agriculture experience, having been involved with numerous horse shows locally and nationally-all on a fair platform; his daughter also trains, raises, and shows horses. His family owns a hobby farm where they raise beef cattle. Kent feels his experience will help in his new role on the Fair Authority Board. “I have a very good understanding of what it takes to host large events,” he said. “As a member of L’Anse Fire Department, we hosted tournaments for the Upper Peninsula Fire Fighters Association, and the Copper Country Firefighter’s Association.”

≤ John Kling was elected by the Mackinac County Commission as its representative. Kling currently works as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in St. Ignace. He has also worked on numerous Boards and Committees that have put on events, such as The St. Ignace Car Show, Labatt Blue Pond Hockey, and St. Ignace Truck Show, for the past 15 years. He currently serves as a Mackinac County Commissioner. His previous involvement with the Fair includes serving on the Cheboygan County Fair Board for 12 years and attending the convention every year. “I would spend all week at the fairgrounds, mostly working main events at the grandstand, but helped in any way possible where I was needed,” Kling said. “I also sponsored and bought beef, lamb, and pigs for my business for 15 to 20 years.” Kling’s community service incudes serving as a Kiwanis member since 2011, volunteering for the Red Cross at Christmastime, and serving as The St. Ignace Area Chamber President for seven years. “My goal as a member of the Fair Authority Board is to provide a magical Disney-like experience for young and old, creating memories that last a lifetime.”