It was a Fair Day

This weekend was the Trinity County Fair, which, for some 4-Hers, is THE WEEKEND of the year in this community. Because I didn't grow up here, or around 4-H, I was extremely fascinated with all that goes on at this event. Let me start by saying that Wes didn't go to the fair, partly because he already had plans to go on a ride, and partly because he feels a little bit scarred by his childhood fair memories. Ok- that's a bit extreme, but let's just say he really doesn't enjoy all that the fair has to offer. So, while the grown-up males on the Scribner side of the family got on their street bikes and headed out to the coast- the females on the Scribner side gathered up the kids and headed to Hayfork. Grandma Linda graciously offered to drive, and with my sister-in-law, Bridget, me, my nephew, Shawn, my niece, Brynn, Kylee, and Owen- we had quite the crew! We went first thing in the morning on Saturday, because we wanted to beat the heat. When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was that there weren't a whole lot of people milling around yet, and those who were, were hanging out, riding around on bikes and quads, kind of like they had settled there. I realized that these kids had been here all week, at this point, the fair is just going on around their campsites. Fascinating. We went in to see the animals, which was really cool. We know two of the girls who were showing their lambs, and they were awesome to let the kids come in their pens and meet these nibbly-friends. It really was neat to see all of these proud children and young adults sitting with the animals they had raised all year to be in the best possible shape come fair day. I always used to think about how sad it is that the children work so hard, and get so close to their companions, and then have to give them up at the end (sometimes for a hefty check, I must say!), and now I realize that there is a lot more to it. I think that the 4H is a great group that teaches kids values and work ethic, and the kids who participate are learning valuable life lessons about responsiblity from a young age. Wes did it, he raised the pigs and the turkeys, and tells stories of wearing the stinky "pig shoes" to school. This may be the reason he wants to steer clear of the fair now, but I think it's part of what makes him such a tremendously responsible and hardworking man today. He has said our kids will NOT be walking pigs in the morning before school, and I support that. I have to smile, though, because it is TOO funny for me! When I think about all the things I had hoped my kids would stay away from as they enter adolescence, walking pigs is definately not at the top of my list :)

So, the Fair day was full of rides (all courtesy of Grandma Linda), yummy greasy food, and Bridget and I even treated ourselves to a stop at the beer booth. We were happy to see a bunch of Kylee's little buddies from gymnastics and new classmates, and we were all having so much fun, that what we had planned to make a morning-only event, turned into an all day excursion! The temperature was well above 100, and the nap-less kids got along famously the entire day. Needless to say, the ride home was very quite (I even got to nap a bit!) and we arrived shortly after the men finished their 5 hour ride- which, by the way, was also awesome! I'd say that Fair day was definately a very fair day for the both guys and the gals!