The Fair

I talked to both of my daughters and one of my grandchildren yesterday! Good stuff.

Katrina just returned from a business trip to Pittsburgh. (I told her I was sorry.) She’s busy with enrolling the “kids” in school, going to sporting events, and helping Hope choose a college. I still can’t imagine that Hope is that old!

Karen and Taylor had just gotten back from the California State Fair. I went to their website afterwards and looked at some of the things we discussed. The State Fair certainly has a lot to offer! Taylor was thrilled to see a 1,000-pound pig. She also told me about some of the art work and exhibits and the rides. She won a stuffed animal and ate a corn dog.

I have fond memories of the fair. My parents took us to the Fresno County Fair (CA) every year for more years than I can count. My high school friends and I went to the fair. Gary and I went to the fair. We took our children to the fair. We even went to the fair one year with a photography class. I’ve been to the Oklahoma State Fair a couple of times and once to the State Fair of Texas.

My childhood memories of the fair are all about the “carnival”- the rides, the prizes, the two-headed calf, the tattooed woman, the food. Of course Dad also dragged us through every barn and animal exhibit. We had to see the biggest and the best of everything, even the chickens. And I remember watching a cow give birth at the fair. The most boring thing on earth to me was the “harvest” display of produce and wheat and cotton and grapes. I saw those things at home! Only the mutant watermelons and giant pumpkins held any appeal at all.

As I got older I became interested in the exhibits, especially the flowers and quilts and art. Woodworking also fascinated me.  I wasn’t experienced with “craftsmanship”. No one I knew had the money or the luxury of time to produce such quality. It was amazing to me! And I even became interested in the produce as I tried to grow my own and realized it was a skill not everyone had.

Our local fair is small and not nearly as exciting as the fairs of my youth, but we still go sometimes. It brings back memories. And the people who work so hard on their displays deserve an audience.

I don’t know why, but I could only locate two fair pictures in my files. One is of my brother in front of a flower exhibit, probably 1958. The other is from the night the photography class went to the fair to complete an assignment. I should have at least a hundred photos from that night…who knows where they are now.

Anyway, go to the fair if you have an opportunity. Now it’s time for me to go to school. Definitely more like going to the circus.LOL

 

Comments

[Megan]

I miss southern fairs! We've taken the kids twice to Utah's State Fair and it was such a let down for Trent and I. Hot, dry, noisy. Yes, animals, rides etc. But the favorite fair food was missing and there weren't many animals, crafts and food. I swear the fairs I went to in Durant had more entries (adorned with blue ribbons!) but less rides.

I only went to the Texas State Fair once, but WOW! everything's definitely bigger in Texas.