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By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal
Many people love county fairs. Whether attendees enjoy riding rides, eating fair food, competing in or watching livestock shows or other performances, there is something for almost everyone to enjoy at county fairs.
It is no secret that I enjoy showing our miniature horses at the Morrow County Fair. Although I always try my best and often have good results, my favorite part of the fair is the sense of community. A walk through the barns or a stop at the yearly square dance are always sources of finding good friends with which to enjoy a chat and a laugh. Fun and friendships accompany hard work for me at our county fair.
In addition to my family, I can always count on my friends and fellow exhibitors for a helping hand. My family has learned the hard way that if they come anywhere near the miniature horse barn on show days, they are going to be drafted for a job and they seem to look forward to it and enjoy it.
As the miniature herd has expanded, not only have my husband, parents and aunt and uncle become key helpers in readying my horses for the shows, but others have been drafted as well.
A long-time friend of mine, Lisa, mentioned early in the week that her daughter was a member of the junior fair board. Because of this position, her daughter had to be dropped off and picked up from the fair early so Lisa said she was going to be on the fairgrounds for long periods of time while her daughter worked at the fair.
I sent Lisa a text inviting her to come to my show the following day. What she didn’t know is that along with my dad and uncle she was going to become an important part of showing the geldings in the halter classes that day.
It was a fun day with family and friends that won’t soon be forgotten.
On hitch day of the fair (when the horses show pulling carts and wagons), I usually need some extra help to get all my minis in their classes in a timely manner. I can always count on my fellow exhibitors to lend a hand. On both practice days and show day, the Timmons and Cox families, in addition to my family, made sure I had safe experiences while driving my horses.
This year, even the judge played a role in making sure my show experience was safe. He noticed a loose wheel on my wagon as I prepared to enter the ring.
As my husband held the horses and I sat on the wagon, the judge inspected each wheel for safety while our friend, Josh, tightened the wagon wheel.
From practice days to show days to days just roaming around the fairgrounds, I can always count on my family and friends to lend a helping hand or be there for fun and laughs at the county fair.
County fairs are much more than ribbons, tractor pulls and food, they are a place where memories and friendships are built that can last a lifetime.
