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The views expressed on this page are soley
those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views of County
News Online
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It’s a Wrap:
Fun and Games at the Fair
By Bob Robinson
The 162nd Great Darke County Fair is a Wrap. Mother Nature wasn’t very
kind this year with thunderstorms and too often just plain old rain and
drizzle, either just before or during fair hours. The Cheer Competition
had to be moved to Greenville High School, and I understand the Tractor
Pulls had to be cancelled…
That said… the rides were great, the food vendors were great, the
agricultural events were great… coliseum… horse races… games… animals…
horticulture… entertainment… you name it… all were great!
In case you haven’t figured it out, I love the fair. Being an Air Force
brat and living in areas where county fairs were not a big deal, I’d
never seen one until I saw the Great Darke County Fair around 1995 or
96. I settled in as the Advocate Editor in 2003, 15 years ago. Haven’t
missed one since.
I was delighted when CNO Sports Editor George Starks reported that
“our” fair was the Blue Ribbon Fair… voted by the Horse Racing
Association as the Best Fair in the Country. It is a well-deserved
honor.
Color me lucky. I caught the Mime on two different days. He was a
farmer/gardener with his flower basket on one day; a Revolutionary War
hero the next. As always, he had a gathering of adults and kids around
him…
And as always he didn’t speak (that’s why he’s called a Mime). It took
me a few years to figure it out and stop trying to get an interview.
I would like to have caught the music of Big & Rich (from outside
the Grandstand). Also, would have loved to have seen Spittin’ Image at
the Gazebo. Unfortunately, both were past my bedtime.
On three of the nine days, at 6:45 a.m. I was at Gate 5 taking tickets
for Kiwanis and trying to keep from being run down.
I lost track of the number of times I saw kids I knew… some were from
Edison, but most were students from subbing at Greenville Schools or
tutoring in Empowering’s After School Program. I got another surprise
that four kids I knew from Greenville Elementary were sisters.
Different grades, so no way of knowing about the family ties.
One little one – and I do mean little – she was in a kindergarten class
I subbed in last year, wanted me to pick her up. I had to tell her I
couldn’t… there are times when I really hate being old.
Despite what a few of you have told me, not all “my” kids like me.
Last day of the fair, I was picking up food to take home. The student –
I knew her immediately – took my order. Nice and professional. No
recognition. She was a pistol in my communications class, challenging
me on a fairly regular basis.
I started talking to her dad and he commented to her about her former
instructor. “Yeah,” she said. “I know him.” Her enthusiasm at
acknowledging me was underwhelming. That’s a lesson for all of my
communications students this year, and as many years as I’m still able
to teach… “Ya jus’ can’t please ‘em all.”
That same day, entrants for the Demolition Derby were backing up Gate 5
out to the highway. This was the last major event of the year and there
was no shortage of people willing to take a beat up vehicle out into
the grandstand to get beat up some more.
Rain and some lightning kept the rides from getting started until late
afternoon; once the sun popped out, they were booming. Kids were
riding. Kids were playing games. Kids were having fun.
Lots of stuff going on, but probably the most fun things to watch are
free: kids playing games and having fun.
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