Save the Best for Last

The one the only Fairfield County Fair gets underway today. I realize that not all of you will have the chance to attend our great county fair in Ohio. I wanted to highlight some of the best things that represents my county fair. Let me know what you enjoy most about your county fair. The fairground consists of 65 acres, was founded in 1850, and is the oldest fair of continuous operation in Ohio.  After gas was discovered in 1889, the Fairfield County Fair was famous for “Racing by Gas Light”, and the “Lake of Fire”. Can anyone tell me what the Lake of Fire used to be? I am not familiar with this one.

10. We have some really old buildings that have been maintained. The most famous is probably the Round Cattle Barn. I appreciate mixing in the old with the new buildings.

9. Mt. Pleasant overlooks the fairgrounds....it is just magical!  It is a striking and picturesque rock formation rising abruptly almost 300 feet above the surrounding plain.  The view from the top has been described as “sublime”.  Much Indian lore is attached to Mt. Pleasant and the surrounding country.  Mt. Pleasant aka Standing Stone  was a well-known and famous landmark to the Indians, traders, explorers and early settlers.

8.The camping. While you may not spend every night in the camper, having a spot is a must. To get a spot is difficult. We all joke that if you end up with a good spot someone must have died or moved out of the county. We have a great spot but it didn't come easy. I slept in a lawn chair overnight in the rain so I could be first in line to secure this spot. For the record, it was completely worth it!!

7. Mule Races, who doesn't like to see adults bouncing on the back of a stubborn mule around a sand track. It never fails to be entertaining.

6. Combine Demolition Derby is where retired combines and their drivers bash one another until there is only one moving Combine left.  This is something I have always wanted to participate in and it on my bucket list. There are sparks, parts falling off and pure redneck entertainment.

 

5. Fair Food: Everyone has their preferences. I must get a Madison's Fish Sandwich, a hot ham and Cheese sandwich from the Bloom Carroll Lion Club, pork tenderloin sandwich from Rubes and the Cider slushy from Hugus Fruit Farm is a staple.

4. The Panorama When you are in 4-H and FFA this is the main event to kick off the fair. The new Queen is crowned all the state winners are recognized and the outstanding 4-H'ers are named. Over the years there have been corny skits, flash mobs and lots of entertainment, always a great way to start the fair off and let the livestock competitions begin.

3. The competition of the kids. Seeing the 4-H and FFA kids show off their year of hard work and watching the excitement in their eyes is something that can not be described. There is an element of everyone is a winner but a love of good competition. Win or loose there are so many life lessons to be learned from both experiences.

2. Time of Year Fall is a perfect time to have the last fair in Ohio. The leaves are turning and for the most part the temperatures are perfect. It just sets the mood and welcomes in the fall fashions and boots.

1. The people, when asking some of my friends what their favorite part of the fair is, the majority said "The People" It really takes you back to some pretty darn good memories of 4-H and FFA. You do not have to stroll very far to see a familiar face. It is a sort of Homecoming and the perfect time to reminisce the good ole days.

What are you county fair favorites? I would love to hear.

It's a Derby Darling

Parker watching the heats.

Leave your fancy hat and mint julep at home and trade them in for some cowboy boots and a tall tea. Darling it’s that time of year!
The combine derby is an Ohio favorite on the county fair circuit.  There is just something about people sitting in the back of their pickup trucks and filling the grandstand to watch retired combines smash into each other watching smoke and sparks fly.

While there are rules it is a pretty rough sport. It is on my bucket list to drive a combine in a derby someday, kind of ridiculous I know but isn't that what bucket lists are for?

This was a great hit! No worries the drivers
are harnessed in there and wearing helmets.

While I have not driven a derby combine I can only imagine there is an art to maneuvering these large machines in between the concrete guards and around the course and strategizing where you will strike your competitors. It's a lot about the combine holding together but the driver really makes the difference.  They divide the entries into heats (3-4 combines per heat) and the last combine running in a designated time frame is the heat winner. Then anyone who can get their combine up and running again can come out for the final drive for the overall winner. The entries come with a pit crew of people, parts and tires some even have farm service trucks which are capable for most any fix including welding parts back on.

You may be thinking this is a little red neck but I like to call it good old fashioned county fair fun....then again maybe it is a little red neck but I love it and so do my children. Just in case you have never witnessed such an event here is a little taste of the Pickaway County Fair Derby.

Not your Kentucky Derby

In Ohio, when Summer arrives it is officially County Fair time. We live in Fairfield County and our fair just happens to be in Mid October and is the last of the County Fairs in Ohio (they save the best for last). As we await our fair, we usually try to go to a couple of other fairs around the state each summer.

This week the Pickaway County Fair kicked off and they have a Combine Derby. We decided to take the kids and visit our neighboring county for a little summer County Fair fun.

When I hear the word Derby, the Kentucky Derby immediatly comes to mind. The big hats, classic dresses and horses worth millions sounds like a ton of fun!  The Combine Derby is more like I imagine the infield of the Kentecky Derby is like but still a lot of fun in a way more relaxed redneck kind of way. Watching the combines smash each other, the loud screams from the fairgoers and people watching is always a grand time. Congrats to the winners who were from my home town in Fairfield County! This is a short clip in case you have never had the privilage to watch our kind of Derby! Maybe next year I will wear a big hat!