It’s county fair time again. That time of year when people bring out their best work, the effort sometimes of months, and share it with their community.
Fairgrounds here and around the country are filling with animals and artwork, jams and jellies, crafts and clothing and more. Dogs run and jump, horses trot and prance and cattle, hogs, goats and sheep make their ways through the show ring, all for a ribbon and a hearty “you did well” from the judges.
And there’s a rich history to fairs. They first fairs were held hundreds of years ago, typically in the fall, after the harvest. They offered a chance for people to connect with their neighbors, bringing together artisans and crafts people to trade needed materials and products for the produce of agricultural communities.
A number of my favorite memories are centered around county fairs. Because, you see, I’ve just about done it all.
I’ve been an exhibitor, I’ve helped organize events and I’ve been a judge. I’ve been fortunate to win a few ribbons for my photography and I’ve had the privilege of seeing images from some very talented young photographers.
But one of my strongest memories is centered around the then-new town 4-H club. A group of parents, mine included, realized there were a number of young people who were interested in exhibiting in the non-agricultural competitions at our local county fair. They approached the local Extension Service and the Challengers 4-H Club was born, with yours truly as its first club president.

There was, admittedly, a somewhat rocky start to the club. The adult sponsors of couple of the rural clubs complained that “city kids” really didn’t belong in 4-H, that it was a distinctly “country” entity, something for the children of farmers exclusively. Fortunately, the Extension Service folks shut that nonsense down pretty quickly and we were chartered as the first town club in our county’s history was given the go-ahead.
We met for a few months, bringing in adult presenters in a variety of disciplines to introduce us to some of the various categories we might want to develop into projects for the county fair. I remember presentations on everything from woodworking to gardening to cooking. I absorbed a great deal of very interesting information during those first few months of the club.
Then, as they do every year, the seasons turned and the county fair rapidly approached. And with it, the county fair parade. We were determined the Challengers would be as well represented as we could be in.
Now, I honestly don’t remember whose idea it was. All I recall is that several ideas were thrown out. What was our parade entry going to be?
We didn’t really have time to build what some would consider a “proper” float. We didn’t want to just ride down the street in a pickup or on a wagon or, gasp, walk.
Then it happened. Someone piped up.
“What if the bigger kids pulled the smaller kids in little red wagons?”
(My back still hurts when I remember this part.)
As one of the bigger kids, I wasn’t too enthusiastic about this idea. But, sadly, I was overruled. Planning went forward, wagons – some of which probably hadn’t seen the light of day in years – were secured and our parade entry was ready.
But the plan only had couple real flaws, facts that weren’t realized until we were lining up for the parade: This was a very hilly town. And the streets weren’t in the best state of repair.
But the real question in my and my fellow pullers minds was who thought it was a good idea to buy thin clothesline for us to pull with?
I think I still have furrows in my hands.