There's trophies, blue ribbons and even a little money on the line for exhibitors at fairs around Northern Michigan this summer, but there's significantly less cash than in year's past.

The state trimmed about $1.5 million from its agriculture budget that used to go toward prizes - or "premiums" - for exhibitors at fairs. Typically fairs would receive about two-thirds of the total money they gave out from the state; the rest was raised privately by individual fair boars.

At the Marion Fair in Osceola County, one of the first fairs to kick-off this summer, there are some signs that less money is leading to fewer exhibitors.

But the hope is that kids that are interested in 4-H programs will remain so, because there is a lot more to be learned than just what can be won.

9&10's Michael Kasiborski and photojournalist Jordan Nagel have more on how fairs are dealing with the cuts.