Dan Drewry's Fair Column
The 2013 Sanders County fair started, at least for me, on Thursday. We were all in the Valley Press office having our weekly staff meeting, and I was trolling Justyna and Colin about fair week. They get to run around the fairgrounds taking photos all week long, and they get paid for it. Pretty light duty, in my opinion.
Colin raised his foot, and everyone started laughing at him. “I went down to the fairgrounds to take pictures, and I found out there’s ((poop)) down there!”
Justyna’s a veteran of Sanders County photography, and zapped Colin. “I was down there today in sandals, and I didn’t step in anything!”
On Saturday Chris and I were at a regional campout near Polson, and there was more discussion of the Sanders County Fair than there was of Flathead Lake. A gentleman from Missoula held a rather loud opinion that the artwork of Sanders County kids is far superior to that produced by their Missoula counterparts.
Why that is, he said, is a mystery. He goes to both fairs religiously and much prefers the artistic work of Sanders youngsters.
We were at the fair on Sunday, and looking at Susannah Lindsay’s Christmas plate I’d have to agree with the Missoula gent. For perhaps the most outstanding color on display at the fair, though, I’d have to cite the light green of Jean Pinkley’s jalapeno jelly.
First things first on arrival at the fairgrounds: we beelined for the milkshakes. For the first time in yea these many years at the fair, we didn’t have to stand in line. Chocolate shake in hand, Chris was on the hunt for fry bread. “I think it’s over here. Last year the Methodists were in charge.” Yep, same place and same congregation, with butter, honey and cinnamon applied by a charming lady in a pink-sequined hat.
Thus fortified we headed for the rifle raffle booths. We had barely toured the beef barns when some of our Polson cronies showed up. Half of the campout was en route to Plains, they said. Topping their list of fine exhibits was the native American flute shown by Troy De Roche, and a landscape painted by Mahala Harris.
We were in the rabbit barn when suddenly 20 years fell away and my older son, Rob, was standing there in my mind’s eye. He was a little kid again and a 4-H girl was letting him pet her rabbit. His face was just radiant and still shines in my memory.
From young kids with their dreams to old men with their memories, the fair had something for everyone. Just as it does every year. And unlike Colin I didn’t step in any ((poop)).