This year’s theme for the quilt block contest was barns. Twenty-one entries were accepted and displayed at the event. Each entry had a story about the block, and media used. The first place winner was Barbara Palowitz, who quilted an inside barn scene of a farmer with his cows. The second place winner was Rose Peliter, third place was Betty Caloutte and fourth place was Tami George.

Maureen Lapinski tended the viewers choice table. Cathy Gabrial and Mary Tulppo tied as the viewer’s choice award.

“When I got here at seven this morning, there were people already lined up at the tent,” said Lapinski.

Betty Calouette and Nancy Froberg sold tickets for the 2018 raffle quilt, which Kathleen Craig won. The quilt was made from 2017’s quilt blocks. Last years’ theme was red, white and blue.

Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Ladies Day recipe contest winners pause for a photo Friday. Shown above, from left, are Becky Keuhl, third place; Linda Romps, first place; and Alexandria Palzewicz, second place. The special ingredient of this year’s contest was beef.

“I’m really excited about this years quilt,” said Calouette.

Beef was the main ingredient for the recipe contest. Judges Bob Brown, Ann and Joe Crispigna, Nicholas Gasso and Jeff and Paula Waeghe had the task of deciding the winner of the beef dishes. After reading the rules sheet they judged on a 0 to 5 point scale. They rated appearance and presentation, creativity, taste, texture and doneness.

Vicki Kositzky took the food dishes to the judges.

“This is my first time volunteering, but I’ve been here before. It gets better every year,” said Kositzky.

Linda Romps won first place with her beef rouladin. Second place went to Alexandria Palzewicz for her beef fried rice, and Becky Kuehl received third prize with her hamburger vegetable soup. In the category of other, Kay VanBrocklin won first for her peanut-free peanut butter cookies and Jan Hurkmans won second with her strawberry cream pie.

Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Over 400 people attended the 41st Ladies Day at the U.P. State Fair Friday. Goodie Bags, raffles, vendors and entertainment were part of the day.

DJ Mike Flavor and Rod Stende, kept the crowd entertained through out the morning.

“We’ve worked 10 years together. We’re very comfortable with each-other,” said Flavor.

All 50/50 tickets available were purchased. Jayne Szukalowski picked the winning ticket, then one of the ladies jumped off her chair to claim her prize of $785. The other half goes will help fund next years’ Ladies Day.

Linda Romps, of Bras That Fit, spoke about being in business. Romps has been in business for 13 years and is currently working to help get a bipartisan bill to improve insurance coverage for lymphedema patients.

“People ask how to get their own business. Look around, see what we don’t have here — there’s your opportunity,” said Romps. “You need a mission statement, passion and drive, along with business sense. A little bit of luck can help too,” she said.

Jayne Szukalowski, from Anytime Fitness, spoke on the healthy woman.

“Surround yourself with healthy people, exercise daily and eat right,” Szukalowski said. “If you do these things, your health costs may lower 80 percent.”

Before she left the stage, Szukalowski had everyone off their chairs doing a few squats, shoulder rolls and stretches.

The first 400 people that entered the tent were handed a goodie bag and door prize ticket. There were a variety of items included in the goodie bag. “The cookbook in the bag is like gold,” said Millie Larson, one of the ladies handing bags out at the entrance.

Raffle items included a glider/rocker from E and E Furniture, bicycle, wooden bench, TV, grill, quilt and other items. There were 18 raffle items, all valued at over 100 dollars each.

“The money goes right back into next year’s Ladies Day fund. We paid half for the glider/rocker and bought the bike,” said Linda LaMarch. The ladies helping LaMarch sell tickets were Patti Doucette and Kathy Stende.

Some of the vendors included PM School from Escanaba. Every year the school has been at Ladies Day. This is the first year Lippens has PM School as a vendor.

“This business has been around since 1948, owned by one owner or another,” said Lippens.

Before the vendors, raffles, and contests, musical group Augie and Theresa started at 9 a.m. and played until the emcee took over the stage. Augie plays acoustic guitar acoustically, while Theresa provided vocals.