STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann
UNL Extension educator

     The ribbons and trophies have been awarded. Pictures have been taken. All the livestock have been loaded and the static exhibits have vacated the exhibit hall. The trailers and pickups have left the grounds. The panels, tents, scales and miscellaneous items have been stored away and the livestock barns and fairgrounds have been picked up and are back to their pristine condition as BF - (before fair). All is quiet and serene after a much different scene from the previous days!
     It has been a very long, intense and hectic week that we have basically prepared for in various ways since the post fair meeting one year ago. It was a yo-yo effect for weather. We kind of figured it would be with the very nice, cool weather that we had the week before. In Nebraska it seems things always even out, or as one old timer said last week – “We will pay for this!” and boy did we ever on the last official day of the fair. The heat and humidity was incredible and it seemed that you couldn’t walk across the fairgrounds without working up a good sweat, or in my case a “lather”, as our horse enthusiasts will say. The only saving grace was that everyone else was experiencing the same condition.
     I know that the heat keeps some people from coming and enjoying all the activities at the fair, but I have never seen it keep these young people and their parents from the duties of caring for their livestock or tending the barns. It was gratifying to see everyone pulling together to see to the welfare of the animals, kids and everyone that was in attendance. You saw teams of individuals providing water for animals when their owners were otherwise detained, you saw individuals taking out frozen bottles of water to place in the poultry and rabbit cages. You saw 4-H parents and grandparents taking the time to mist down cattle, sheep and swine or placing fans to make the most of moving air. There is something about a fair that, for the most part, bring out the very best in people. It is a tribute to tradition and the ethics that are innate in our citizens.
     It was gratifying to see adults and kids working together to put soaker hoses on the roofs of the beef barns to provide a cooler environment inside for the calves and humans inside. It was fun to see young people pitching in with older folks with that enthusiasm that youth brings as well as the lack of fear of anything that may happen should they slip or fall. I was impressed on how people work together, not only to pull off a big undertaking such as all the events and shows within the fair, but all the collateral responsibilities and behind the scenes activity that routinely happen each and every day. It was a testament to the collective care that rural people take with animals when they take care of those that don’t even belong to them. They are after all God’s creatures and the farmer was placed on this earth to be their caregivers. It is not only innate with the people whom frequent the fairs all across the country, but of our rural populace who knows the importance of these animals to their own welfare, livelihood and even their emotions and/or psychology.
     Not lost in all the fuss, weather concerns, etc. was the pure joy of seeing a first time exhibitor lifting his arms to the heavens and say “Yes” after winning a class or receiving a trophy. It never gets old seeing the smiles on the faces of these young people no matter if they have a red, blue, purple ribbon or even the treasured trophy or “gold” as some people will call it. Also in the equation is the pride and joy you can see in the faces and hugs of parents and grandparents – no matter how well their offspring have done. The curtain and sign that provides a background for pictures is not reserved just for the champions, everyone makes use of the area to record their personal memories of this fair or to share via scrapbooks or social media like Facebook. This time of the year is special for many reasons for many people, and all are fulfilling.
     I always marvel at the hard work and dedication these families put towards their projects and know full well that many consider the County Fair as their “vacation”. It is a time when they can put other things aside and work and play as a family. I absolutely love seeing the campers forming a little community with the smell of hamburger or “cream can stew” cooking over a fire. I love hearing the giggles and chatter of kids, as well as the laughter of adults as they sit in lawn chairs or on the tailgates of their pickups, discussing issues, farm concerns, weather, or the judge’s placings of the day. The sight of a young exhibitor draped over his/her show box or a strategically placed lawn chair or even perhaps laying up against their market steer – exhausted from the activities of the day-- or perhaps the night before.
     Although our Carnival backed out of their contract and we had to scramble for the midway entertainment, the supplemented attractions like the “Zip Line”, Mechanical Bull, Rock Climb, Inflatables, and little “Choo-Choo train” seemed to keep the young ones happy and bouncing around the grounds. You, of course , cannot get by without experiencing the aroma coming from the Methodist Church or 4-H Food Stands or the wonderful, salivating smell of a funnel cake. You cannot help hearing the distinct voice of the rodeo announcer calling everyone to come see the heroics of the cowboys, the “oohs and ahhs” coming from the stands during the bull ride or the laughter coming from the crowd during the traditional “Wild Cow Race” and even the roar of engines coming from the Mud Drag pit on the last day of the fair and the sound of the dance band that plays late into the evening, surrounded by the voices of adults enjoying their friends, neighbors and even “competitors” over their favorite beverages. Yes, County Fair is much more than ribbons, trophies and hot days. It is a part of Americana, the rural landscape and what makes our little niche of the world so special and unique. This one is over, but I am already looking forward to next year! Oh – when is State Fair?

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: www.webster.unl.edu/home