Often, the word fair means equal treatment, but this week in Henry County, fair means livestock show and sales, country ham auctions, beauty reviews, mouth watering dinners, an exciting midway, enticing commercial exhibits, photography and flower contests, demolition derbies, huge money giveaways, awesome music, and the county’s best canners, bakers and quilters -- all at one big event!
Growing up, my sister and I never missed the Henry County Fair. We loved looking at all of the vegetables, the flowers and plants, the canned goods and the Commercial Building booths. Our favorite was always the PI booth where, before the digital age, you could buy black and white photos from the PI files for a dime. Prowling through those pictures, most of which had been in the paper, provided hours of entertainment for lovers of photography and local history.
It seems that most of the pictures we bought were of older folks doing, well, things that older folks do. My favorite is of a gentleman who was probably in his seventies. He’s wearing overalls and holding two beautiful cantaloupes. You can tell from the background that the photo was shot at the PI office. I always envisioned his wife saying, “Honey, these are the biggest, prettiest cantaloupes you’ve ever raised. Let’s ride up town and let them take your picture at the newspaper office.”
The PI booth with boxes of old black and white glossies may be long gone, but there are still lots of great images to enjoy at the photo booth in the Enoch Building. Just like on Snap It! on MyParisMagazine.com, a great variety of photos turn up in the fair’s photo competition. Although none can be purchased for a dime, it’s fun to see what fellow Henry Countians are photographing. Who knows, there may be a picture of an older gentleman in overalls with the biggest, prettiest cantaloupes he’s ever raised.
2 comments:
Eating corn dogs, funnel cakes, and cotton candy, while trying to win teddy bears, is my main memory of the Henry County Fair. Back in the day, twice a year was the only opportunity for you to get decent corn dogs, the Fair and the Fish Fry. Those two dates were the only times for funnel cakes and cotton candy, also. When Jean & I go to the Fair this year, we will enjoy a very fattening supper. The first thing we will have is a corn dog, along with freshly squeezed lemonade, as our entree. Then we will split a funnel cake for dessert. An hour or so later, we always enjoy some cotton candy!
I am glad the need for winning my “date” a big ol' teddy bear, has subsided. I have always been a gamesplayer, and could usually, eventually win what my girl wanted. Nowadays, it seems like there is not enough money in the world to beat some of the games, so I am very glad Jean does not require the biggest and the best!
I look forward to the 2009 Henry County Fair. With something for every taste.....I believe a good time will be had by all!
The 2009 Henry County Fair is history for Jean & I. We have to go to the fairgrounds by 1:30 Saturday to pick up the photos entered. She won a blue ribbon for her collage of the Tennessee State butterfly, the bird, the tree, and the flower.
We spent 31 dollars on our supper Thursday evening. We each had a corn dog and a lemonade, and split a whole potato, sliced thin in front of us, then fried to a golden brown. A couple hours later, we had another lemonade with our funnel cake. A very expensive meal, a very fattening meal, but a good meal. And at least it will be Fish Fry, before we have another like it!
I can tell I am getting older. We didn't even walk through the carnival, we made a short trip through the livestock area, and we spent most of our time in the Enoch building and the fantastic, brand new commercial building.
We love this community, and hope events like the Henry County Fair are with us forever.
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