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| Duane A. Lienemann UNL Extension Educator |
It doesn’t matter what county you are in or what time of summer it is, county fairs are special. I know I am not alone appreciating all those that come together to pull off what has become the largest social event of rural America. If you didn’t get a chance to attend your local fair, let me give you my take on it. The old adage says “If you can't smell the livestock, you are not at an authentic county fair.” But there is so much more, and for me it is the experience for our kids.
While all the livestock, sounds, smells, lights, static exhibits, competition and events are important aspects of the fair, for me it is mostly about seeing our young people and/or their parents feeding or watering their animals, cleaning the stalls or sitting on show boxes talking about the unusually cool weather or how much rain they finally got. It is so nice to see those bright, smiling and sunburned faces of those young kids in their 4-H T-shirts, some in cowboy hats, excited for the day and for another adventure at the Fair. One only had to look around to see the flocks of young kids, full of energy, hope and visions of their future leading a lamb, a beef or driving a hog. They may be thinking of a future project to exhibit in the static exhibit hall or maybe even participating in the rodeo when they get older, but for sure – having fun! I hope a good number of people got to take in the Rainbow Classic on the last day of our fair. It just did the heart good to see these young people go to a judge with a pet or borrowed show animal to do their best in showing off their animal and answer the questions brought to them by a judge. This is what it is really about; however, we sometimes forget that it is about the kids!
I actually had the chance, in between getting ready for the next day’s shows, to take in part of the rodeo each night. I loved what I saw, from the bleachers full of people taking it all in; the smell of kettle corn, the banter and cheers of the audience as they cheered on the rodeo performers and the laughter resulting from the antics of the youth and even adults in the Junior 4-H Leader’s Boot Scramble, or the rodeo clown. But more importantly, I just loved to see the hundreds of young people hanging on the fences, running up, down and around the bleachers of the rodeo arena. Pretend cowboys, future cowboys and cowgirls, and all potential 4-H and FFA exhibitors. I could look it at as job security, but my career is in its waning months, so I look at it a lot more as a bright future for the Webster County fair and many other fairs like it.
It was not just the youth I observed, I enjoyed seeing and talking with the older folks who walked through the barns and the grounds reminiscing about how it used to be. In the evenings, there are the barbeques and lines of people excited for the night’s entertainment and rodeo. The racing of engines and clash of metal-to-metal was evidence that you were at the annual demolition derby that is nearby. On the last day you would have heard the chant of the auctioneer as the fair came ever closer to an end and the big crocodile tears of young exhibitors saying goodbye to their animal friends. These things are what make the fair a special thing to people in rural America. That is what it is all about. That is what makes it real.
Now, throw in the lights and sounds of the carnival, the infusion of funnel cakes, 4-H “Yum-Yums”, and the Methodist church pies. This really is a slice of America that persists here amid the grueling heat of summer. “Rockwellion” it may be, but it's something we dare not let go of --because it's so real. It becomes a big family reunion, with a sense of friendship among people who perhaps haven't seen one another all year. And beneath it all, there lurks the spirit of competition, whether it's for the best sewn dress or the Grand Champion Market Steer! Most important however is the camaraderie.
I want to congratulate all of our exhibitors, for not only their accomplishments, but also for their demeanor and conduct. I always hear admiration from the judges. I want to personally thank everyone who is involved with the local county fair. Not just those at Webster County, but all the county fairs across the country. There are so many volunteers all across our state whose work hard to keep this tradition alive and well. Thank those folks and the local ag society or fair board for all they do. Don’t forget the 4-H and FFA leaders who help guide our youth. I want to give special recognition to Carol, Kelsey and Jessica in our office for their “behind the scenes” heroics! I for one am proud to be a part of that tradition and am determined to help insure that the Rockwell picture continues. I cannot even think of summer without the County Fair! I still approach the fair as the wide-eyed kid that saw the championship animals and that big Ferris-wheel at the Franklin County Fair so many years ago! It is so good to see people pull together to prepare, put on and clean up after another great county fair. That is what it is all about. The county fair is community. It is “Family owned, farm raised and county proud!”
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home
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