'Hot' time at the fair

The 2012 Buena Vista County Fair is over and was it ever a hot one.

Jeff Demers and his Smokin' Hot Deere tractor got together with many of his friends and their tractors for a play date. Some 4,000 people came out to watch as the National Tractor Pullers Association national pull took place in front of the grandstand. The pullers were so impressed with the crowd they have asked to make a date next year at the Buena Vista County Fair.

Ron Hott brought back the Bill Riley Show. The event gave area youth the chance to share their talents and boy, was there some great talent to watch. Ron is hoping the event can return next year. There are so many talented youth in this area that could participate so let's hope they will take advantage of this talent show if the event does return.

No pun intended but it was also hot at the Buena Vista Raceway concession stand. An electrical fire destroyed the building but thank goodness for the Alta Fire Fighters who contained the fire from spreading.

And yes, the temperatures were hot, as usual. I didn't check but those chickens and ducks brought in by 4-H'ers for the poultry show had to have been laying fried eggs.

I love the fair.

Fortunately, I get to experience everything there is to see and do at the fair - recording the winners in the many 4-H events, capturing the first winning smiles at the crowning of the fair queen and Little Miss, and getting an up-close look at the entertainers.

The fun part of the fair is that despite it always being hot, everyone is in a good mood.

I love it.

I always marvel at the livestock shows. It is amazing seeing the 4-H'ers in the middle of the show ring maneuvering around animals that weigh many more times their own weight. The large animals rarely do as their trainers want them to do but the 4-H'ers hide their stress well and save their sweat for the relief they have when they finally steer their animals back to their pens with ribbons they have earned.

It also is a great to see those 4-H'ers work together. They can be competing against each other in one show in the next, helping each other out. There are great friendships among the 4-H'ers. With the members spread out across the county, they often don't have the chance to see each other except at fair time.

It has been my pleasure to see many of these 4-H'ers grow up; I have a whole new batch of names I will need to get used to this year and will miss seeing some of those that have graduated out of 4-H.

I got my fill of a lot of good things - the great food at the Alta-Aurelia Dance Team food stand and even of the sun beating down on me (I think of this as a good thing, bringing in that natural Vitamin D!)

I will look forward to next year's fair but I will remember this year's event for some time especially as I continue to smell the animal poo that was ground into the three different pairs of sandals I wore while there!