Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
It Surely Is the Greatest
Lizzy Findling happily gives her prized steer a pat mid-show.
Clay Raider Saul Christensen in the ring with "Tokyo," his 2022 Grand Champion Market Gilt.
Tommi Rabel with her winnings for Grand Champion Junior Showman and Reserve Champion Market Beef.
Hunter Pearson enjoys reaping the hard work he sowed with his banner winnings from the swine show.
Grant Meyer says his final goodbyes to his market steer, a dry eye not in sight.
Marlana Tewes and her daughters, cousin, niece and sister enjoy the ride "Pharoah's Fury."
Stoic among the chaos of the show ring, senior Tyson Tessum shows lambs in his final 4-H show.
Everly's Clay County Countrymen 4-H Club gathers on one of the many days members spent cheering each other on at the World's Greatest County Fair.
Maggie Toft, of Royal, enjoys being the conductor at The Depot during the fair.
Every year I write about the fair and how amazing it is. How cherished and beloved it remains. How you'll be hard-pressed to find something that captivates nearly every fair-goer and entices every demographic of person.
Every year I tell you how I get emotional thinking about how the fair is part of many of our stories. How many of us were raised not only attending the fair, but also showing, living, breathing and working the fair. Volunteering at The Chop Shop, falling asleep on the side of your market gilt, playing late night games in the Swine Barn after chores were finished, riding rides while laughing in terror and joy, shedding tears while you mourn the inevitable as the 4-H pet-turned-project that you've been working with all year is now being loaded up right before your eyes.
Every year I tell you how the joy and wide-eyed wonder you had as a child and still embrace as an adult, is now something that you get to see in your children's eyes as they experience the fair in all of its glory.
Every year I tell you how the fair is fun, family, friends and a fair amount of food – the four F's that locals plan for and anticipate annually. The minute it is over and our bellies are ready to burst, our feet are throbbing in pain, and our bodies are full of exhaustion – we enjoy the pause yet long for the day it returns.
Every year I question how it is possible that a fair, with thousands upon thousands of visitors a day, can still feel like a home-away-from-home and a tight-knit community all in one.
Every year I tell myself I'm going to spin this little post-fair article blurb in a different way and take a different approach to my coverage of the fair. Really get creative and cover the fair like I've never done before.
But this year, this year I'll just keep it simple. I'll just keep reminding the masses of just how lucky we are to be blessed with the Clay County Fair in our backyard. One would be lucky to partake in a mere second of its majesty, but we get to endure it for a lifetime and carry it through the generations.
How amazing is that?
Sentinel-News contributor Iesha Toft lives in Royal.
