MINOT (AP) - Politicians and sponsors of statewide ballot proposals have a special reason for enjoying the North Dakota State Fair. It gives them a chance to get out their message.

Political booths were scattered through three commercial buildings at this week's fair.

"I need as much face-time exposure as I can get," said Max Laird of Grand Forks, who is hoping to unseat Wayne Sanstead, the longtime state school superintendent. Sanstead is a Minot High School graduate who sponsored State Fair legislation in the 1960s and was in the fair parade.

The most heated battle in the booths appeared to be over a ballot proposal to ban game farms that charge hunters a fee to hunt on their property. Supporters of the proposal say it should be illegal to hunt fenced animals, while opponents see an effort by animal rights groups to stop any hunting or raising livestock for slaughter.

Ward County Sheriff's Capt. Todd Keller said deputies were called after an opponent of the measure disputed the use of information from Web sites of game farms. Keller said the deputies were there to keep order, but the opponent left after being told the dispute likely would have to be resolved in court.

Citizens to Preserve North Dakota Property Rights, which opposes the measure, sponsored its own booth at the fair to counter what it called misinformation by initiative backers.

Shawn Schafer, staffing the booth for the property rights group Thursday, said he was educating people and signing up those who want to get on the group's mailing list.

"We are doing really good," Schafer said.

Roger Kaseman of Linton, an initiative proponent, said most people are willing to sign the measure's petition.

"This has been a gold mine," he said of the fair. "The fair here will put us over the top."

Backers of an initiated measure to establish a new tobacco prevention and control fund also were collecting signatures. Kathleen Mangskau of Bismarck said exposure at the State Fair is just as important as getting people to sign their names.

"Part of our mission is to educate people about the measure as well, and it's a wonderful place to do that," she said.

Ed Christensen of Bismarck used a pressure-free approach to seek signatures for an initiated measure to change state workers compensation policies. He was unfazed when one fairgoer glanced at his booth sign and walked away.

"I got him to look at it," Christensen said.