A Fair Appreciation: Looking Back and Looking at the Present

Compiling the Yesterday’s Memories feature for the Courier has been a fun exercise in learning a lot more of the history of our area, and also an education in just how cyclical the news can be. So many stories from years ago could be plucked out of an old printing and dropped into a current one without issue, although some language updates might be needed.

So it was quite interesting for me to read Gwen Cornwell’s Letter to the Editor in last week’s issue, and then come across a 25-year-old commentary from Betty Brandt questioning what had happened to the fair. “”Where were the people? Where were the exhibits? What has happened to our “Fair?” ... Can you remember the excitement of seeing all the overflowing exhibits; the displays, and the crowds of people? ... We can all do something to increase entries – from taking pictures to stirring up a batch of cookies (this includes the guys, too).”

Twenty-five years ago, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band headlined the fair and drew an estimated crowd of over 2,600 people. I was at that fair and certainly remember that it was much larger than it is now. However, I also remember that there were more residents in Valley County at that time. Perhaps with the fair being such a social highlight of the year, more people notice how it has dwindled in size. Perhaps it’s also our tendency to romanticize the past.

The simple fact is that the population of Valley County has shrank since its inception, with a few noticeable spikes. There are fewer entries and displays because there are fewer people and businesses. We ask a lot of our fair board and they are doing phenomenal work with less than what previous boards have had. The fair is a symptom of a smaller population, not the problem.

Bemoaning what was and what could be distracts us from appreciating what is. Thank you to all who do participate, organize and volunteer. Thank you to our transplants who are embracing small town life and looking forward to joining in next year. Thank you to those who are doing more with less.