BAYFIELD, Wisc. - It’s said to be one of the top 10 Autumn festivals in the country and it's right here in the Northland!  The 48th annual Bayfield Apple Festival is on its way and orchards are busy getting ready for this weekends big event.

"It’s the busiest time of the year, Jim works all year in preparation to get these apples ready for people to come," said Jim Edwards of Bayfield.  "I’ve been doing this all my life," said Erickson Orchard & Country Store owner Jim Erickson.  Erickson’s orchard has been growing strong for 55 years.  "It’s a great feeling to put out an apple like that," said Erickson.  His grandfather planted the first apple trees on the property in the early 1900's, now the orchard has grown to 3,000 trees and with the Bayfield Apple Festival just days away, they need all the extra help they can get.  "You got to be rush, rush, rush to get everything ready for the apple festival," said Erickson.  The orchard crew spent the day grading and sorting apples all in preparation for this weekend's festivities.  "This is a good past time, good past time. When you are retired, you can't sit around for too long," said Edwards.  He lends a helping hand to his buddy every fall.  "First it was just a friendly thing and now he drags me," said Edwards.  "He’s one of my mainstays here.  I don't have to be standing there all the time, Jim takes over," said Erickson.  Even one dedicated apple picker braved the cold wind and rain to help out.  "He’s a brave soul," said Erickson.

And the country store was packed with visitors Monday.  "This is our busy, busy time, we have other busy times but this gets really kind of crazy busy," said Erickson Country Store clerk Marian Larson.  "We have a lot of people come from Duluth all the way to the North Shore, all the way to Grand Marais and they come every year for apples," said Edwards.  "So we've been in the orchard business for many, many years," said Erickson.

And now, Erickson plans to hand down the business to his son Fred.  "Fred’s been helping me since he was practically old enough to walk," said Erickson.  Erickson says his son will take over the orchard business in the next year or two.  "Oh I’m going to go work for him, that'll be a little different deal.  I told him I’ll work cheap," said Erickson.  That way he can still spend his days on the orchard that's become one big part of his life.  "It’s a good feeling to know it will be carried on, it makes me very happy," said Erickson.

Jim Erickson and his wife Muriel have been chosen as the grand marshals for this years Bayfield Apple Festival.  The 48th annual event kicks off Friday October 2nd and runs through Sunday October 4th.