Well, another Pierce County Fair has come and gone. I’m sad it’s over, but relieved at the same time. So is my wallet.

We couldn’t have lucked out with the weather anymore than we did. On some days it almost felt like fall. I’ll take that any day over feeling like I’m dying of heat stroke in the Round Barn. It seemed like when I was a kid and a 4-Her, it was always at least 90 degrees and humid.

This fair seemed especially special. I’ve been trying to put my finger on why and I finally did. It took my tired brain a little longer than usual to wake up. It was because of all the people I got to talk to and the conversations we had. Everywhere I went, people had kind words to say about the Journal and for that I’m extremely grateful. There are days when I doubt myself and wonder if I’m doing anything right. We all have those days, right? Especially when four teenagers remind you daily that you’re old and know absolutely nothing. But all the kind comments really made my day and helped reaffirm that I am where I belong.

I couldn’t possibly list all the highlights of the fair, but I will name a few.

• Working in the 4-H Food Stand on Saturday with our club, the Martell Rushers. I love seeing the pride on the kids’ faces as they take and fill orders. The line is always long for those delicious malts; thank you to everyone who patronizes the stand and supports Pierce County 4-H!
• Visiting with Kathy Shafer of the town of Gilman, who won a champion ribbon for her beautiful container garden in Open Class Flowers & Houseplants. She has a green thumb, that’s for sure. My daughter still has the ivy she helped her plant as a Cloverbud years ago.
• The Veterans Ceremony honoring those who fought in the Vietnam era. When those men and women came home from the jungles of Vietnam, they were rarely thanked. In fact, they were often ridiculed and blamed for the world’s chaos. The ceremony, put on my Veterans Service Officer Missy Hildebrandt and Case Coordinator Tami MacGregor, brought me to tears. We are so lucky to have them in the county working for our veterans. I was proud to stand and sing “God Bless America” next to those who served.
• Cheering in the stands of the Ellsworth Funsters Demo Derby Saturday night. Wow, what a show! The demo derby was packed with a sellout crowd. Put on by the Funsters and promoted by 715 Motorsports and Promotions, there were about 100 drivers there and the action was nonstop. The new business class was exciting; I’m just glad the Hager City Glass driver is okay after getting knocked out.
• Having Tom Gunderson, Spring Valley, show my mom and me his beautiful paintings and artwork in Open Class. Talk about talent! He grew up down the road from my grandma. He would wait at the end of his driveway for her to walk home from work; she would award him a stick of gum each day. What a special memory.
• Pulling barn duty in the Rabbit Barn. We had a blast talking with fairgoers and showing them Carolina’s four rabbits.
• Drinking a giant lemonade from the Midway stand. I’d been waiting for that sugary lemonade all year. It’s expensive, but so worth it. My family keeps the glasses and uses them year-round. It’s a reminder that the fair will be back next year.
• And of course, watching Carolina present her projects to the judges. I can hardly believe how far she has come since she entered 4-H as a 5-year-old Cloverbud. She ended up entering 42 items (we counted finally) and received two champions: one in Rabbit Costume and one in Crossbreed Rabbit.

So Pierce County Fair, until next year. The four best days of summer never last long enough.