Taste of the county fair

I spent the last week as a vendor at the local county fair. Although it was very hot, some days over 90 degrees, it was still an experience everyone should do at least once. My booth was next to the antique tractor club's exhibit. Each morning the members would arrive early to prepare their display for the visitors that would arrive through out the day. To the visitors it is a unique display of antique tractors hit and miss engines, petroleum operated washing machines and even a scale model train the younger visitors could enjoy a ride on. As the owners shared the stories of their tractors and other antiques on display some visitors shared stories from their family's past of similar items. I think the train was likely the biggest attraction for the youngsters. It chugged along with a realistic sound on it's scaled down track, which is now a permanent fixture at the fair grounds. Many years ago the same train delighted children, including myself, at Olsen Park, a big attraction in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The park is known for it's zoo and recently renovated Band Shell used for many years bandleader Karl King to entertain Fort Dodge residents and visitors. I doubt that few realize the work these dedicated club members put into setting up and maintaining their displays. As I watched day after day hour after hour the men tend their hit and miss engines. They would tinker a bit then throw the flywheel, then if it didn't start they would tinker some more and try again until it started. What a distinct sound those engines made. pop-pop-pop-hiss-pop-pop-pop-hiss for hour on end, can you even imagine how it would be today if that was the way we got our power to do laundry or operate electric lights? This year the fair had a circus complete with camels, miniature horses and breathing taking acts that were cheered on by those who came to watch. I didn't get a chance to get away from my booth to take in the show, but every hour listened to the circus announcer repeat her dialogue enough times that I believe I could repeat it word for word. The big day is Saturday. Late morning the pork and cattle producers arrived with their trailers and grills, then a pick-up truck heaped with fresh locally grown sweet corn. A large tent is set up for serving and other volunteers set up barrels with long 2"x12" boards strung across them for the guests that will arrive that evening to use as a table. A little later a group of 4-H members arrive to shuck the corn in an assembly line. A couple of young men sneak away from their duties to check out the items for sale in my booth, but are quickly spotted by their leader who reminds them the corn must be done prior to shopping. The hour approaches for the sweet corn to be served the line begins to form, longer and longer it snakes around the parking lot. Guests eagerly anticipate the buttery treat and the accompanying pork or beef burger. I waited my turn, since I was in the line early on I only had to wait about fifteen minutes but it was all worth the wait. A local 4-H group had set up shop nearby offering fresh homemade ice cream as their fund raising project. Sunday morning arrived and the events began to wind down 4-H exhibits were taken down some would advance to the state fair competition and others go home to try again next year. One by one trailers of animals, campers and vehicles filled with tired exhibitors exit the grounds. The Circus held it’s last performance and less than an hour later the huge tent was down and loaded on to semi trailer, the animals and performers with their trailers left for their next show fifteen hundred miles away in New Jersey on Tuesday morning. Now the fairgrounds are quiet with only a few people cleaning up, leaving the 2008 fair only a memory.