Morrill County Fair

When I think of a County Fair, I naturally think of the kind of fair that I grew up with. First off, a big parade with marching bands, floats, football players and their cute little cheerleaders, old cars, lots of businesses promoting their own, the ambulances and fire trucks, and them little Shriner cars with the old guys in them. After the parade, you walk in the middle of the street, because the road has been blocked off for the whole weekend! There are dozens of food vendors, sidewalk sales, talent shows, loud music, face painters, evening concerts, arts & crafts booths and, the ever most popular RIDES.

Do we all remember the Zipper and the Tilt-A-Wheel? Or that whirly thing that goes around so fast, the floor disappears and you're stuck to the wall? The Swings and the Octopus? The 'fun' house with it's funky mirrors. The Duck ponds, baseball batter booths, shoot the balloon and win a goldfish booth, basketball hoops for a teddy bear, and the like. All admissible with those precious little paper tickets Mom and Dad had to buy at the 'ticket booth'. And who could forget those dirty, greasy Carnies who made all that fun possible?

Well, here in Western Nebraska, the fair is a bit different. Certainly gives you less of a stomach ache at the end of the day, if you can get past the smell of the cattle barn. The Morrill County Fair is held at the fairgrounds, just south of town. People bring their campers along to stay for the week long event, as everything happens right at the fairgrounds. People can wander through the barns to see the different animals. Eden was Ok until we got to the pig pen. They are bigger than in the books and the "oink" is more of a wet, snotty snort. We didn't stay there too long.

We had a junior rodeo, a big truck & tractor pull, a roping competition, swine (pig) show, rabbit show, sheep show, cow show, poultry show and I'm sure I'm missing an animal here show..... All with different categories to be graded on. Before the show, all the barns were full of parents and youngsters getting their animal ready for showing. Here you see the pastor attempting to sheer a sheep before a show. Talk about pressure! Also, awards went to the different 4-H garden growers. Many winning vegetables sat out for us to see, along with jams & jellies, cakes, cookies and muffins.

They had a building set up with much of the kid's art from throughout the school year. There are many talented artists in our midst. Photographs from the way of life out here were displayed. Quilts were hung with care, including a quilt made solely out of Crown Royal bags that Al thought was pretty neat. Different clothes that people had sewn were also on display. One of our youth did an amazing job of creating a peacock out of colored wire. Hats off to Kendall for that one!

The week wound down with no fair-related ambulance calls. Al and I took Eden to the pool to cool off on the invitation of a member. Eden and Lauren played in the kiddie pool together. A new week is here, along with the 100 degree heat. Blessings to all!~