Kids and Fairs are Awesome

So fun to be at our local fair yesterday. I was so nervous about being asked to judge the Kid/Parent Cookie contest, and I probably took it way too seriously. But saw my smiling patient, who was the organizer of the Food part of this fair, and she put me at ease...all the kids had to have at least an 80% for just showing up, and only encouragement and positive advice is allowed.
Judging: a long table, plates of 4 cookies each, someone to help me add up the scores, and lots of cute kids and their parents sitting in the chairs, surrounded by cakes, cookies, canned goods, pies, and overhead, the quilts, colorful banners of imagination and art and warmth. The winner was: everyone.
Each parent and child get 1. time together doing something fun. 2. Free ticket into the fair, and for some kids, a skip day from school with parental approval. 3. The prettiest rainbow ribbon for contestants. and 4. some advice from a professional food expert (not me, one of the other judges).
As a judge, I wished that more parent/kids were here. Not only for all the good cookies I got to eat, but sure feels good to know these families are learning what quality time really is.

 

We still have fairs and rodeos here, but they are shrinking fast, mostly because it can be so expensive if just used as entertainment: eating the latest bad food craze (last year was deep fried Snickers candybars and this year deep fried butter, which I am happy to tell you, I cannot tell you what they taste like), or going on the rides.
If we can encourage people to participate, enter canning or cooking, or art, or flowers, or animal husbandry, they get a free entrance ticket, at least for their day of judging, and learn some good skills. I am thinking about getting some of these kids to post on facebook about how to get in free to the fair, and maybe that will do double duty.

 

I remember as a kid,the baked goods, veggies and flowers and sewn articles all had their own booth at the local county fair. Now they have only one small booth and even it isn't filled most years.

 

Our county fair is alive, well, and thriving. You wouldn't believe the rivalry that goes on about the best pickles, cakes, cookies, breads, and other culinary delights. There are two elderly ladies famous for their dill pickles. The judges avoid general mayhem and personal injury by giving one lady the blue ribbon one year, and the other lady the ribbon the next year. It may not be fair, but it's safer!
And the livestock--there are lop-eared bunnies, Polish chickens with a neck ruff and topknot that has to be seen to be believed, big steers being let by tiny 10-year-olds who raised them, and the sheep are groomed (have you any idea how long it takes to shampoo and comb out a sheep?).
Of course there is the Midway with all kinds of food that is guaranteed to clog your arteries, and rides that will open them right up again. There is a light layer of dust and the smell of fried food covering everything.
It's a good thing we have the fair just once a year. We couldn't stand the excitement otherwise!

 

Hi Karrma,
looks like you got over being nervous and not only enjoyed yourself,..but noticed that one and all did likewise,..plates of cookies,pies,canned goods,quilts and colourful banners,..yep i can picture it,..alas its a long time since i was in surroundings like those,..communities like that are vanishing so its great to hear some are still running,..well done.

 

We went to the county fair here about a month ago.Heather Joe and all 3 kids and myself had a great time the older boys
enjoyed riding all the rides and all the animals.
were so pretty some of the sheep had been sheared.The goats also it was chilly at night.some of the goats were wearing sweathers.We all had fun
Eli enjoyed seeing everything.He is crawling very good now and trying to pull up.Eli turned 9 months old the 12 th.Nana has enjoyed spoiling him and the other boys.

 

Now that sounds like my kind of contest, glad you enjoyed yourself. Our parish fair is next month. We went together every year as a family on Tuesday night, family night. Then of course the girls got too big to go with us. Last year we took Kyndall, the grandbaby, she was only 6 months old but had a grand time. She will be so much fun this year.

 

I haven't been to the county fair in ages. When I was growing up, I couldn't wait for it to come around. You not only got to take in all the rides, etc... but there was my favorite... "western day" at school. That meant I got to wear blue jeans... not only to school, but to the fair that afternoon and evening.
Back then, girls weren't allowed to wear pants to school, so for this tom-boy it was super special.
And for the record, in my junior here of high school (1975) they changed the rules so that girls could wear slacks or pants suits(but still no blue jeans). Ahhh... county fairs.. such sweet memories.

 

I enjoy seeing all the 4-H things the kids have made.Lot of them get $$$ for college .Makes me go home and bake.We also went to Iowa State fair. Got lot of ideas on flower beds.Projects on house.Had long list of things.But next year will be in middle of weeks- too many people on weekends.