As a kid I lived at 204 South Jackson Street in Brownstown, Indiana.  It was the last street on the East side of town at the bottom of a slight hill from main street.  West of main street there was much steeper hill.  We had no air conditioning.  We had many shade trees.  And for a week every summer there was, across the corn field or soy bean field, whichever was put in that year, the greatest County Fair in America.  The Jackson County.  All of these things mentioned are still there…except me.  And there is central air in my childhood home now.

As I sit on my back porch this Saturday mid-morning, I reflect on that childhood and a visit my dear wife, Carrie, and I made to that very place just yesterday afternoon.  It was a chance to visit old friends and relive the sounds and sights of my youth and they still seem just as fresh today.

Okay, enough John-Boy Waltonesque sentimentality.  But that was fun to write.

Carrie and I did indeed visit the fair yesterday.  We had a great time.  We ate the German Potato Salad courtesy of the talented cooks from St. Ambrose Church and the burger that is secondary to a usual side…we only get this special tater salad once a year…was very well prepped and tasted f…i…n…e fine.

This is not the St. Ambrose stand…but you may get an idea of where I am speaking of…

There is always plenty of exhibits and live stock to take a gander at.

This little calf at Young McDonald’s Farm was interested in the ducks being cajoled into going down the slide.  This little exhibit is always a fan favorite.  One of the many things you “gotta” see again.  I’m not sure why.

Entries to be judged are always a good look.  The following is a small sample of the things we could be here all day looking at.

I could eat on this sweet tater all week.

Excellent veggies.  Fire up the grill!

Plastic Army men painted and arranged very creatively.  Amen.

Above is a photo of the grandstand of The Brownstown Speedway at the Fairgrounds.  Every Saturday night the cars roll during racing season.  During the fair other events take place here as well.  There was to be a country music concert last night.  Tonight they will be racing.  The Paul Crockett Memorial will be in motion.  Paul gave me my first hair cut.

The old tractors are always worth looking at.   This is a cup out of gallon that were on display.

We stopped and listened to some tunes by some guys, I did not get the group’s name, singing barbershop style.  They sang Sentimental Journey and treated it very well.  Carrie and I certainly enjoyed listening.

The midway is full of excitement.  They had the rides cranking yesterday afternoon and know that this place is PACKED at night.  The sights and sounds are amplified when the multitude of lights take on a new life in the dark of night.  It is awesome.

Sad to say that below is tangible proof that the give’em all a trophy for participating mentality has trickled down to the games of chance/skill along the fair’s midway.  You don’t have to wonder why talking heads in education are now saying students need “grit”.  We took it away from kids when we started handing out trophies like they were M and Ms.

Pardon me while my stomach rallies.

Just like the “hill” at North Harrison High School football games, folks put out their chairs to mark their spot to sit and watch the fair go by of an evening.

In closing I can tell you that the new stadium at Brownstown Central is coming together nicely.

Out with the old.

In with the new.

I was hoping my North Harrison Cougars would be waiting another year to visit this place. The way a revamped schedule works out with new opponents on the schedules, the Cougars make a return visit to BC this year.  When I was thinking of the Cougars schedule a few weeks ago I was thinking about odd year vs. even year.  On odd years we host the Braves.  Not this year.

Go COUGARS!

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson