The “Everybody Has A Fair Story” contest had 22 fabulous entries this year. Congratulations to the top 5 finalists: Marla Stello; Mikala Turner; Cheri Miller; Susan Earle; and Shorty Crosby.
The Grand Champion story went to Cheri Miller about her Kewaunee County Fair experience that led to marriage. See “Orange County Andy.”
The Reserve Grand Champion went to Shorty Crosby and his “Escape Room” story.
Congratulations to everyone that shared their stories. Mid-West Farm Report is proud to be the sponsoring partner.
Orange County Andy
It was a hot and sticky, sweltering weekend, August 1982. My new boyfriend, Andy and I were driving to Luxemburg. He was going to meet my family and see the family farm for the very first time. As we continued on highway 41 something occurred to me, what was I thinking? Andy grew up in Orange County, California. What would he think of my chaotic family, especially on the most eventful weekend of the summer, the Kewaunee County Fair.
I had six younger brothers and sisters, and they loved 4H and entering projects. Oh how we loved the fair, the sights, the sounds, the smells as farm kids. This was really our only getaway the whole summer.
As we drove into Animated Acres, my 12 year old sister Carrie Jo, was trying to get her horse Midnight to go on the horse trailer. Midnight was so scared and frightened. It was nearing entry deadline time so Dad finally yelled, just ride her to Luxemburg. It was only about three miles away so Andy and I helped saddle Midnight and followed Carrie Jo down the county roads of Luxembourg, while Andy and I drove my rusty Subaru with the flashers flashing. As we neared Main Street, Midnight, became more scared. She stopped right on Main Street at Rosie’s beauty salon and did her business on the lawn.
We saw several ladies with bouffant hairstyles peering out the window. What the heck was a horse doing in downtown Luxembourg, much less going to the bathroom? We had no choice. We had to get Carrie Jo and that horse to the fair.
When we got to the fairgrounds, mom heard about this — she was so embarrassed. She got her hair done at Rosie’s every single weekend. She hadn’t even met Andy, but she commanded him to take a pail and a pitchfork and go clean up that mess at Rosie’s beauty salon. Andy did as he was told, and got in the Subaru, implements in hand. Then cleaned up the odoriferous mess again, the ladies were supervising him, peering out the window, wondering what was going on.
When Andy returned to the fairgrounds, it was my dad’s turn to give him a directive. Carrie Jo forgot her horse bridle. And dad asked Andy to go back to the farm to retrieve it. So Andy got in the Subaru wondering the whole three miles. What the heck was a bridle? Luckily, when he got to the farm, our renter, Tim, was there to explain what he needed.
Next Andy decided to help Randy, my 14 year old brother, prepare Beverly, a 1500 pound Holstein cow for the show. They showered and shampooed her, dried her off, whitened her white spots with baby powder, and shined her hooves and horns with black shoe polish. The final step was to tease and fluff her tail and spray it with hairspray. While all this was happening, Beverly, the biggest cow ever on Animated Acres, stepped on Andy’s foot. It was time for the cow judging so there was no time for first aid for poor Andy.
On Sunday night when the fair was over we were so exhausted, but we had to do the milking and farm chores. I watched as Andy limp around the barn alley trying to scrape it off. Dad motioned me over and whispered, “You know, you have brought a lot of city slickers to this farm this but this one is not so bad”.
I was sure Andy would break up with me after this chaotic weekend and that this was the last weekend for him on the farm. Shockingly, one year later again, the first weekend in August. Father Milton married Orange County Andy and I at St Mary’s Church in Luxembourg. Father commented that he was marrying two different people from two very different backgrounds, and he was right. But guess what? We have loved 43 years of marriage together. We’ve been very happy, and we’ve had many, many more trips to the Kewaunee County Fair.
Escape Room
Being the president is so much more than sitting in front of a group of fair enthusiasts and running a meeting. When something needs to be done, at the fairgrounds, my number is at the top of the list.
Our monthly meeting day was a sweltering 90 degrees and the decision was made to repair the gate entrance sign. Hand post hole digging for the 6×6 supports took longer than expected and we finished tamping in the last post shortly before the meeting started. Being a good distance from home, I had texted my wife to bring me the keys to the showers, a towel and clean clothes so I could remove some of the stench before the meeting. The key seemed to resist the lock but with persuasion the lock turned and I stepped inside, the door closed behind me.
As a farmer I have been trained to shower quickly, and my wife would have been proud. I dried off, dressed, gathered my things and reached for the doorknob. It wouldn’t open. I dropped my clothes in a heap and with both hands gave it my best farmer’s yank. Nothing moved! Panic started to set in, and
my heart began to race. The feeling of no escape was real. The fair board was now waiting for a missing president.
I texted my wife and told her I couldn’t get out of the shower and that the vice president would have to start the meeting. She said she would come to help, but what could she do? The keys to the lock on the outside of the door were inside with me. I could pop the hinges, but they were on the outside of the door
too. There was a window above the door measuring 8” by 3 feet. There was no way that my big belly would fit through that. I could hear concerned voices outside my cell that could do nothing to assist me. I then remembered my Leatherman that was in my pocket, and I used every tool it provided to unscrew, pry, and dismantle that lock. The door flew open, and I took my first deep breath in what felt like an hour. I raced back to the meeting to cheers that I had successfully “escaped” our newest escape room! Later
there was a rumor that someone had broken into the shower. Actually, they had broken out.
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