Let’s Be Fair
Posted by Jon DeHart in October 7th 2008
Last weekend, we took our yearly family jaunt to the fair. I just love going to the fair. The air is crisp and 
clear. Tons of wonderful farm animals – watch your step. Loads of ribbons awarded for everything from the biggest melons to the prettiest quilts. Take a look at this beauty: an award winning bundt cake!
The fair is a wonderful family activity with something for everyone. Rides, games, food, and take a deep breath, SSSSSSNIFF – ah clear sinuses. Plus a host of interesting business displays you don’t typically see at the mall.
Gus used to like the fair. He’d ride the rides, pet the animals, drink the cider. Good times. Not this year. Now that he’s in Junior High, the fair is so “not cool.” And he’s a little big to be hoisting up on my shoulders and strolling the fairgrounds like this happy family:
Nope. We’ve gone from this- to this:
The fair is a great place for people watching, too. You find young and old alike. Lots of old folks reconnecting with their pastoral roots. Lots of young families enjoying the wonder in their children’s eyes – there was a whole lot of wonder in those eyes that saw the baby calf being born – right there under the tent at the fair. I bet there were a lot of birds and bees-type questions being avoided after that scene.
Why, you even see groups of High School kids, hanging out, eating (or rather, wearing) funnel cakes and loitering around the John Deere display. Actually overheard a teenager on his cell phone, “Dude, meet us over by the combines.” Oh, what fun! The one constituency conspicuously absent from most of this is young 
teens – Junior High School kids. I suppose they’re all just too cool. Not as much action at the fair as there is in a Playstation game. Let’s see, you can sit home alone and play a video game with no basis in reality, or get out in the country, meet some interesting folks, see some pretty impressive produce and gain some insight into another way of life. I don’t care if Gus really is as cool as he thinks he is. When the seasons change, we’ll take the fair – every time.
Jon writes our “When a Toddler Turns Teen” posts here on the blog because believe it or not, your adorable bundle of joy will grow up…
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I would be lucky to have my tween not want to go to the fair. All she wanted to do was ride rides and play games. There was no interest in rabbits and goats and arts & crafts. I did win this year as she had received a ton on money from her gramma ($160) for her grades for the past 2 school years and I made her use that. She spent $92. She isn’t so interested in going next year.
We missed the local fair this year but since my kids are 5 and 1, I’m pretty sure we’ve got some great years ahead of us attending the fair!
I love the fair! Just wish my husband liked it as much!
We love the fair and often participate. My daughter is too young to be “too cool” yet, I’m sure I have plenty of that in my future!
Thanks for the spud-ly shout out, Jon! I keep looking for another behemouth to match the acreage of the first one. I still think the last one helped put a dent in ending world hunger. Glad you all had fun. Our fair is this week, but with football games for the boys, I’m not sure if we’ll be able to make it this year or not. Take Care.