I love the State Fair. Perhaps, it was because it was an integral part of my youth. I subjected my parents to 5 years of 4H hog projects which meant an annual week long stint in the Ag barns in Cottonwood Arizona during the county fair. My favorite night to go was opening night; $15 all you can ride. We would ride the Zipper and the Tilta-Whirl until we felt like we would puke. I also fondly recall my love of the bunny barn. I remember the fun of looking at all the different kinds of cows and sheep. But, most of all I loved watching the fair workers ply their trade. I remember how much fun it was to blow my whole allowance at a dare by the guy who ran the BB Machine Gun stand.
“Just shoot out the star and one of these prizes can be yours!” they told me as I plunked down my $1 and failed miserably time after time, always leaving one little corner of the star dangling by a thread.
I also loved the strength trials, whack the lever with a mallet and try to ring the bell. The baseball speed pitch was another favorite, although i never to hit that 100 MPH mark like I was sure I would. Fry bread and cinnamon buns were a must have as we played until our money ran out and we returned to the fount of fair time fun and asked Papa for more lucre, though he was less willing to part with his hard earned cash if the proposed purchase meant adding another throwing star or can of fart gas to my collection; When it came to ninja weapons I was on my own.
Here in West Virginia, the state fair roles around in mid August and last for a whole week of sugar and deep fried fun. We love the pageantry and pomp of the fair. We love the crazy food and drinks, like Ben Ellen Donuts and fresh squeezed lemonade. This year there was a great lumberjack demonstration running everyday complete with pole climbing, chopping, speed sawing, and even axe throwing! It doesn’t get much better than axe throwing. Unfortunately, we missed the best dressed goat competition; maybe next year.
The carnival is run by the Reithoffer family. To read their history click here. I had the pleasure of being the waiter for a baby shower for one of the family almost 20 years ago at a local hotel. They had requested a male server for the all girls party so I got the job. They were nice as could be and big tippers to boot.
We love the Draft Horse Barn. Lots of gentle giants patiently letting multitudes of smiling children scratch their noses and ruffle their manes. Then we always head to the bunny barn to tickle the bunnies feet through the cage floors. We thoroughly enjoy the care and preparation that goes into bringing an animal into the fair for judging. People some times forget that our food is made by the farmers and cattlemen that had their first exposure to animal husbandry though programs like 4H and FFA. We are all really removed from our food sources these days. I think it’s great that people, not in the farming or livestock industry, can have a chance to see the folks who feed them at least once a year.
I am a big fan of the old tractors. Enough said.
People watching of the highest caliber is a number one draw for us Gallivants. The hills and hollers of West Virginia always make a strong showing.
