See you at the fair!
We love the county fair. It's a rural riot of the senses: the ripest fruit, the freshest pies, the brightest quilts, and something so rich you'd rather not step in it, but that's the fair, isn't it?
A fair is like a circus, but then again it isn't. There are animals there, but instead of coming to watch someone else do tricks and stunts, youngsters hitch up their stiff new jeans, (bought big on purpose so they might fit 'til Christmas) step into the center ring and learn for themselves, "Yes! I can do this!"
Let's go to the fair!
If only to see what there still is of the way things used to be; or maybe to rediscover our inner kid. There are so many reasons to take time away from whatever "it" is.
Wednesday evening there's a parade on Main Street, starting at 6:30. The marching band will march. Floats will float.
Notice how much room there is at the end for all of us to follow the parade, to the fair!
For hundreds of Marion County residents, it's the biggest, most important three and a half days of the summer.
It's time to present to the world the exhibit on which they've spent so much time and energy: growing a remarkable radish, drawing a pen and ink portrait, or baking cookies even better than Grandma used to bake.
For 4-H'ers, it's time to show the sheep they taught to stand still and stiff-legged, or proudly explain to the judge the zigs and zags of their own dressmaking.
As for the 4-H'ers' folks, it's hard to explain. By this time of summer, they've spent too much money on vet bills and livestock feed to make any 4-H project pay. But the investment isn't in the cow or the hog, it's in their kids. It's a headache sometimes, but they know it's worth it because of what they still have that they got from the fair.
To get the most possible good from the fair we suggest you leave your cell phone and Ipod at home. And dress for the heat; shorts are just fine. And whatever you do, don't wear flip-flops or white tennis shoes.
When you come to the fair, take time to walk through the livestock buildings (yes, even the pigpens). See what you see and say to yourself, "Wow! All of these healthy-looking animals were raised by 4-H kids!"
Before the beef judging begins, go into the beef building (it's permitted). Look at how carefully the 4-H'ers polish the hooves of their animals. And ask yourself, "What's makes them care so much about this?"
Now we do realize there are some of you who have no desire to go anywhere near the Marion County Fair. That's OK.
But for those who are weary of things plastic and digital, we suggest a virtual reality experience that's the Real McCoy.
See you at the fair!
— GRANT OVERSTAKE
