Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Ruxen Tewes, Tommi Rabel, London Tewes, Jolee Fisher and Bentlee Tewes pose with Rabel's animal between shows.
Callie Woodall tries her hand at the milking exhibit.
Wyatt, Emma and Leo Geerdes make memories at the fair.
Connor Pearson shows off his reserve champion award for his County Market Gilt.
The Pork Producers' Little Miss Pigtails Ali Kruse poses with a group of adoring fans
Martina Harmon eyes the judge during the swine show.
Ryan Berends leads his swine through the ring.
Dorothy Toft shows off her "Outstanding Junior" award.
There is only one thing that gets a Midwesterner out of school that's not a holiday, snow day or in-service day – the Clay County Fair.
The World's Greatest County Fair has a reputation for inducing joy, excitement, the need to purchase a larger belt, and the enthusiasm of children and adults alike.
The fact that we have such pure pleasure so close to home is not just luck, but a true blessing that we long for at the end of the summer and relish for the short nine days it is here.
How many people get to live out a country song in real life? How many people used to watch television shows and movies in their youth depicting wholesome, beautiful, vibrant, and wondrous fair or carnival-like environments, only to have it play out in reality right before them?
We live in a land of strength found in a calloused hand opening the barn gate to help a youngin' get her pigs to the wash rack; where children become best friends with children they've never met, as they shovel manure at 6:30 a.m., giggle between shows and then lean on each other between gasps for air after the big sale.
We live where a fair isn't run solely by a crew of fantastic staff and employees, but also by a host of volunteers and citizens that come to lend a helping hand just because of what it means to them.
Where the fairs of years past are nostalgically encapsulated by the actions and heart of the fair volunteers of the present, who so preciously work to allow traditions to remain and new paths to be forged delicately by their side.
Where great-grandchildren win ribbons on exhibits they learned to make from the generational teachings handed down by their grandparents and great-grandparents that used to judge and enter the same 4-H projects themselves.
We live where the will to learn as we grow and to help one another out, prevails over the win or the loss in the show ring.
Where hard work and dedication are the brands of the youth and adults that walk the fair streets in ownership of something greater than one could ever dream.
You see, this fair isn't owned by one or run by one – it is our fair; right in our backyard, in our photo albums, in our children's gleaming eyes, in our memories and hearts.
Every one of us gets to say that the World's Greatest County Fair is ours. How magical is that?
Sentinel-News contributor Iesha Toft lives in Royal.
