by Mary Beth

Created on: April 09, 2009   Last Updated: July 30, 2009

It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining. As my feet hit the floor, my excitement rises. The time has finally come to go to the fair. I've been working for this moment all year. Having a horse in the 4-H club is an awesome thing. We load up the horses in our group and arrive ahead of time. Others must be feeling the excitement too, for there are many horses already here. Different groups arrive and decorate their horse's stall with plaques, posters, flowing colorful curtains and ribbon. I get my horse situated, soak in the atmosphere, finish my duties of decorating and settling in the the week, then off we go as a group to walk around the fairgrounds.

I like to check out many parts of the fair. My favorite being just the excitement of being here and competing with others in the county. I feel htis excitement in the cattle barn, sheep barn, small animal barn....even in the craft barn. People in the craft barn are gathering and showing off their talents and wares, the fair is an interesting and exciting place to be.

What do I like to buy? Amish quilts are beautiful and unique and knowing that they are handmade is a plus. Antiques in the commercial building will make me stop and look too. I bought antique jewelry at the last festival. I've also bought pictures, ornaments for the Christmas Tree, and smaller plaques with encouraging sayings on them to give as gifts.

As the week of the fair progresses and I've won some ribbons, I keep taking those walks around the fairgrounds. I like to see people sitting idly at the food tables set up near concessions stands. I like it even better when the place looks clean. The owner of the booth who has "white" attracts me. It says "clean". I remember volunteering to help keep a place like that clean. Our group made a special effort to help keep tables clean and trash picked up.

Remembering the elderly at the fair is an awesome gesture. Just for an example, our family has had a pony riding booth at our home town festival. We have welcomed the older people in to sit in our comfortable sturdy chairs. We have about extra five chairs besides what we need. We've had lots of people thank us for our hospitality. If you love your customers and are sensitive to their needs, say it with a place to rest. Your generosity will return to you.

I like to go by the booths for the children. There are face painting booths, grab bags, numbered ducks to catch from the whirling water in the kiddy pool. The excitement on the faces of these children is refreshing. They just want to have fun. When I walk through the midway, I feel the teens laughter and fun. In their hands are those fun drinking cups with the swirly straws. It makes me want to go get one just for the fun of it. .

No matter what the economic situation or station in life, I see people loving fairs and carnivals. I like to get out there and mingle with people. I also like finding something unique for gifts. I like to take home ideas to try. Hey, I might even try to milk a cow!

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