Chewing The Cud

Oh my Amanda...what a wonderful box of memories you've opened up for us.

I read your list and had to chime in on this one.

My absolute favorite State Fair memory had to be in 1990...the first time I set eyes on my husband. He was a cattle fitter and was working for a farm at the fair. I was showing my own cattle, wishing I had a cattle fitter, not to fit my cattle, but to marry...and he walked into my life! We spent those late nights on the tack box getting to know each other and when the fair was over our romance was just beginning...six months later we were walking the aisle and 17 years later we're still working side by side on our dairy. Thanks for that jog of my memory!

I'm a 4-H member and am 10 years old. I show livestock, give speeches, and judge 5 different contests in my years at the state fair. My favorite memory was getting a purple ribbon on my very first speech titled, "Nutrition with Team Beef!" I was Coach Kaley and my key players were Zinc, Iron and Protein! :) I love the fair!

I have been going to the State Fair every year since I was a baby and have the same State Fair memories as you Amanda.

We had a cot that mom put by the showbox for all of us kids when we were little to eat our lunch or take a nap. As we grew older we showed cattle in 4-H, the specials and in open class. Mom and Dad would go home at night and the older kids got to stay in the 4-H dorms. As the years went by we finally got a camper of our own. That camper spot has grown to five campers. All of us kids are married with our own kids creating their own State Fair memories. The State Fair is a great place to see old friends, make new ones, and enjoy the whole agriculture industy. It doesn't get any better than that!!!

Wow! Thanks to everyone for your wonderful comments. I guess this proves how youth programs like 4-H impact countless people's lives and lead them down the road to success. Thanks for sharing your memories; I'm even more excited for the state fair! :)

Oh, it is true fun to recollect memories of the State Fair. My personal favorite is anxiously looking at the list of livestock judgidng scores. Upon realizing my good day, it would earn me a trip to Lousiville and the chance to compete against the nation's best livestock evaluators. This gave me the opportunity to later prove my skills and more importantly meet great people with similar interests in animal agriculture. The State Fair made so many of my goals possible through involvement in showing and judging livestock. Thanks for bringing back memories!!!

Wow the state fair! I have met some of my best friends at the state fair! It was great traveling in high school and knowing other people from other towns. All of my friends from my hometown were amazed that I knew so many people. All those hours of playing cards on a showbox, hitting up the midway to go get a corndog, or searching the state fair dances for that beautiful girl! haha They are all definetely memories that I will never forget and times that I enjoyed with people that I will consider friends forever

Im in Southern California, and while Im sure there were animals at our fair, it was more of a side thing. Our fair was primarily carnival rides that are unbalanced and make you sick, which are operated by "carnies" who, sometimes were actually registered offenders or homeless folks looking to make a few bucks (no offense to the upright carnival operators)....but my favorite memory is all the food...corn dogs, snow cones, funnel cakes, cotton candy.....all of it delicious!!

I've got a poll on my site too, come and take it! :)

I just read your page
I have GREAT memories
of our Fair.
This year the fair grounds were flooded and the oil refinery also has a MAJOR oil leak So the 99th Annual Coffeyville Interstate Fair and Rodeo was NOT.
I had attended this fair my whole Life.
I was truly sad and Cried because of this,also my Children had spent thier life there.
So next year will be 100 year of the Fair I hope even they didnt have it on the 99th.
P.S. The Kids with Fat stock got to Show and still have a premiem Sale, The Showed in the next County.

These memories are great! Keep em coming! I've got the trailor packed, the calves clipped, and my clothes washed. Tomorrow we load up and head to the state fair! Yippee!

Thanks everyone for stopping by!

OOhhh...fairs are the highlight of the year by far! I raised lambs, goats, beef and dairy beef steers, and poultry for the fair. Some of my favorite fair memories would have to be freezing my butt off when our 4-H club slept over at the Farm Show in January, taking naps in the straw by my cow, the great 'Barnyard Olympics,' and of course sale day when my profits could come rolling in :)

Definetly the naps on the show box! Wow, I could never pick just one memory; I guess my experience going to the county and state fair as a whole would be it! Even when you were hot, sweaty, full of cow or pig manure, you loved every minute of it. Meeting new friends, taking pride in the animal that you worked with and raised by yourself...you just can't find that kind of joy in playing video games!

What a wonderful topic to get to expel all my favorite summer state fair adventures. I remember being in the decorators class in the sheep barn when I was a wee kiddo. I was dressed up in a purple and blue clown out fit. My clown make-up was actually put on by a top shrine clown that my family knew and to make the whole wardrobe complete my corriedale market lamb was spray painted with dots and swirls of purple and gold to match my ensemble. At least 13 years later, friends of the sheep barn still remind me of how cute I looked.