Some people ask me why I like the Shawano County Fair so much? I am not sure how to answer that, other than it was always what was done at the end of summer.
I recall going as a child with my parents, walking through the barns and buildings, eating cotton candy, and being bug-eyed at all the strange and glorious things I saw.
I remember when I was a teenager, my friend and I went to the fair one day. Her parents took us, but we were free to wander at will. We went on rides; most of them scared me at first, but I grew to enjoy them. We laughed and smiled at the guys running the rides and thought that was funny. (Was I ever that young?)
We also had our picture taken in a photo booth. I believe I still have a copy of that somewhere. I have no idea what I ate that day. All I know is the two of us had loads of fun. She is still my dear friend, but, my fault entirely, we don’t see enough of each other as the years pass on. I know I need to make time for a visit, but it just doesn’t happen often enough.
When my two older kids were growing up, I made it a point to take them to the fair. One year, we heard the rumble of the stock car races, and I took them to watch. They loved it, but the cool fall weather made us leave before it was over, as we hadn’t planned on staying and had not brought jackets. That was 45 to 50 years ago, so the cars have changed a lot over time.
Then, when I remarried and moved to Tigerton, the kids became part of 4-H, and my father-in-law, Paul Lehman, was president of the Fair Association, so the fair was very important for us to attend. Stock car races were again on our fair agenda, but we came prepared with jackets in tow. I remember I always used to have to eat a corn dog.
Eventually, two more children were born, and they also became 4-H members, and I was co-general leader for many years of Tiger Tribe 4-H. Racing became quite important for my third oldest son, Bert Lehman. While he didn’t race, he kept scrapbooks of racing stories since childhood and used to draw race cars on his school papers. One of his teachers told me she didn’t have to look for a name, she knew whose paper it was when she saw the race car.
While my kids were in 4-H, I began to volunteer during the fair, mainly in the crop and vegetable building. After they were out of 4-H, I began to enter things, mainly photography. While I had gotten away from volunteering, last year I was asked to help out again, so chances are you might see me in the crops and vegetable building on some of the days.
This year 4-H is celebrating its 100th year anniversary. I have always believed that 4-H is a wonderful organization for children. There are so many learning opportunities, and the county fair is one of them.
While the fair will be mostly over before this column is delivered to your door, I still hope to see you there, as that is another best thing — seeing old friends and making new ones.
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