A Visit to the Fair
I would not want to miss the fair.
It is the most poignant celebration of the skills we used to depend on for our food and our clothes.
So few of us live that way any more, needing the pear tree in the back yard for the winter's fruit.
Keeping the hens comfortable so we can have eggs for eating and for a cake on Sunday.
I was so struck this year by the farmers who brought their animals to exhibit. Raising cows and pigs and chickens is hard, relentless work. I am so grateful to the men and women and children who choose to find significance in that job, and who strive to do it well and with dignity. I thank them.
22 comments:
I have such appreciation for those who spend time raising/growing/creating...
Love the egg shot! :)
It is extremely hard work--we live on a farm & though we don't farm it, we see the work firsthand. It's so great to support local growers. Hooray for freshness and skill!
You are so right in celebrating farming and farmers!
Tonight while I was reading The Little House in the Woods to my daughter, she asked me :'why does Laura's father have to get the honey from the tree?' Of course, why not from the store...? I think we have been in a city for too long!
Have a lovely day,
Annamaria
I am a self proclaimed fair junkie, and spend the entire week at ours. Judging from the pictures, your fair is what I would call "A Good One".
I love fairs... we have lots in Maine and I haven't been to one yet this year. Planning on going this weekend..Love your photos.. lovely post!
Farming/raising animals is alot of work...we have chickens, goats, our good ol' Jersey cow and hogs. We pour hours into our farm, infact it take up all free time, but the reward is far greater than any could imagine!
I love the fair! I just posted some pics of our visit to our local agricultural fair this weekend. We had such a good time!
http://minivanlife.wordpress.com
I love that last picture.
This year we are raising chickens...I will never again buy a egg from the store:) A fresh egg in the morning is Good!
We don't live on a farm but we have chosen to live a simplier life...gardening, chickens, soon rabbits. I like to know where my food is coming from:)
I look at your sewing and see the same hard work that goes into farming....
Great Post!!
Renee
Oh, I love the fair! It's been a few years since I exhibited myself, but my family still takes a string of cows up every summer; glad to know that other people enjoy seeing them, too.
I love the Co. Fair exhibits too. I missed my deadline to show my pear-shaped, baby, yellow tomatoes this year. :(
Right now I am putting tomatoes from our garden through a foley mill in preparation for canning tomato soup, which is nothing like one buys in the store. It takes time and work, but worth it. Susan
What a lovely post; I thank you. My neighbor keeps me in farm-fresh eggs, and I stand in awe at her hard work. I am grateful others feel this emotion.
Thanks for putting into words exactly how I feel about the fair, and why I think it is so important.
Our local county fair (with fairgrounds just six blocks from where we live) has a world-famous rodeo, but I have to confess, I've never been!
My favorite part of our fair is actually the community lunch pput on the first day of fair by a local supermarket. The whole town turns out to eat cheap hotdogs and potato salad, and get into the fair for half-price. I love going that day because I know everywhere I turn, I will see neighbors and friends.
But, how do you skip the rides and all the junk food when you take your kids to the fair? You must go alone!
Anna,
We love the area fair for the same reasons. We like going to visit the animals and seeing the youth competitions, too.
Thanks for the wonderful photos.
I absolutely concur. How I prayed for the farmers in our area during this devastating drought.
I love, love, love the fair. Have you ever entered anything? I did for the first time a couple years ago and it was so much fun. I am ridiculously proud of the fact that my bread won a blue ribbon.:)
Love your blog too, by the way. I have followed it for several years but I don't think I've ever commented.
I love the photos.
Lovely pictures...it's like I was there :)
I love fairs. Many of your photos reminded me of the ones I posted today!
http://chattyhousewife.blogspot.com/2009/09/nw-washington-fair-2009.html
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