UP Gazette

Mike Rogers, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said that as part of his "Michigan First" campaign, he attended the Michigan UP State Fair. Rogers shared his statement with the UP Gazette.

"Putting Michigan First means showing up for the people who make the state so great–families, farmers, business owners, and every Michigander in between," said Rogers. "As Michigan's next Senator, I will bring Michigan values to the halls of Congress and do the hard work every day to keep Michigan a state we're all proud to call home."

Rogers, a U.S. Army veteran, met with business owners and farmers during his visit to the fair. He discussed what he described as excessive regulations harming their businesses. Additionally, he spoke with community members about literacy rates, parental rights, and other issues impacting their daily lives.

According to the fair's website, the 2025 Michigan UP State Fair is running from August 11-17. Activities at this year's fair include a corn hole tournament and performances by The Fab Four and Justin Moore.

WZMQ14 reported that just under 100,000 people attended the UP State Fair in 2024. Attendance in 2023 was around 104,000, with the slight decrease in 2024 attributed to rain during two days of the fair.

According to his website, Rogers represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives between 2000 and 2015. He previously served in the U.S. Army, as an FBI Special Agent, and as a Michigan State Senator.