Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs sand sculpture by Brandy & Greg Glenn
Thursday was a perfectly fine day for traveling the 115 or so miles south along I-25 to pay a visit to the Colorado State Fair. The Fair, hosted by the small city of Pueblo (that's pronounced "Pooh-Eay-Blee" or "Pwhay-Bloe" or "Pweb-lo", depending on the native Coloradoan who is irritatingly correcting my pronunciation at the time), runs from August 24th through the 3rd of September.
I have a particular affinity for Fairs, especially County and State Fairs. I've been to small, medium and large ones from Alaska to New Mexico to California, and having spent 5 summers of my gloriously misspent youth as a Carny with Western Pacific Shows in California, have seen them as both a participant (well, sort of - I worked as a ride-jock on the Midway, that's participating) and as a visitor.
The Colorado State Fair is a fairly rural concern. And, by State Fair standards, small. The grounds of the Fair cover an area about eight by four city blocks, and the Midway is equivalent to the average shopping center parking lot carnival - with fewer rides, actually.
Colorado State Fair History Museum exhibit
The Fair has been in Pueblo for 140 years now, which ranks it as one of the oldest continuously operated State Fairs in the U.S. There is a small museum devoted to the history of the Fair in one of the pavillions, replete with trophy's, copies of posters and programs, and photographs of Rodeo Queens and pageant winners stretching back over a hundred years.
4H imparts practical and creative skills
Like all good State Fairs, the 4H clubs have a number of exhibit halls to showcase the skills that members have learned and developed over the past year. For most city dwellers, 4-H clubs are a mystery, but for small town kids they are a very important part of growing up.
4-H has been around for well over a hundred years, and with over 90,000 clubs boasting over six and a half million members, still going strong. I love the 4-H exhibition halls - they reassure me that at least somebody is learning the pragmatic life skills that are necessary to keep the nation fed.
4H skills for life in rural Colorado
As a rule State Fairs feature vendors hawking every odd and end on the planet, and everything edible that can be deep-fried or put on a stick. Have a hankering for a deep-fried Oreo, Thin Mint or pickle? Craving a fried green tomato, red velvet funnel cake or a chocolate-covered Belgian waffle on a stick? It's all here for you.
New this year is a place that serves up Coney Island hot dogs. You read that right, they're new for this year. Com'on, we're way out west and it takes a little while for the big city treats to catch on.
The State Fair staple, an item actually invented at a State Fair (according to much-debated legend, anywho), is the corn dog. They are available in abundance at the Colorado State Fair, even wrapped in bacon.
Having had to subsist on corn dogs when I worked in the carnival as a kid, they are now one of the four foods I can never eat again. Bleah.
All the food unfit to eat
Another of my favorite State Fair attractions is the FFA animal exhibits. The FFA is not quite as large as 4-H, but make no mistake it is still large and in-charge. The FFA was once known as the Future Farmers of America, but sometime in the early '80's they changed their name to just the initials in order to recognize that it's members have interests more diverse than farming.
However, FFA members are by and large involved in farming, or agriculture if you want to get technical.
Myself, I've always identified the FFA with Dairy Farms specifically, but as anyone who has ever spent one afternoon in the FFA barns at a State Fair will learn, it is much more than that.
Seeing all the time, effort and energy the FFA members put into educational displays ranging from animal husbandry to grass seed hybridization was fascinating. I learn more about what really counts, the practical and the pragmatic, at a State Fair than I ever learn from any book.
Don't even think of messing around in here.
As a person who grew up in the suburbs of a large city, and having lived in or near large cities all of my life, it's a treat to be able to be around the domesticated farm animals on display.
I always approach them with a bit of trepidation, truth be told - you never know when one of the supposedly cute-and-cuddly bastards will snap.
Some day you will grow to become...bacon.
The Colorado State Fair, like every State Fair in the country, goes to great length to insure that all the animals are treated as humanely as possible, and from what I saw, all the animals were living high on the hog (yep, I went there).
There was representation from PeTA right next to the Rodeo arena protesting the display of the whole concept of animals as product, staffed by a couple of zealously compassionate young women. In fact, there were quite a number of political and social activists at the Fair, which is one of the few things I don't really enjoy.
First amendment, I know...and respect.
And the crowd goes wild...
It being Thursday, attendance was a little sparse in the afternoon. The performances scheduled for the various stages did not have nearly the crowds they would later in the evening or on the weekend, yet the respective acts still gave their all. Professionalism at any level is always admirable.
The Weight We Bare by Mark Ernst, Trinidad, Colorado
The one feature that I truly enjoy at State Fairs, or Fairs in general, is the art exhibition. There is always some really interesting gem or two that just makes the entire visit worthwhile. Usually those special pieces are recognized by the judges, which was the case with Mark Ernst's ceramic sculpture The Weight We Bare.
Another artist, Matthew Gutshall, caught my eye with a fresh twist on mosaics. He had two nice pieces on display. No recognition for him other than wall space though.
However, almost as predictable as an atomic clock, a piece of derivative, pretentious crap will somehow cop an award. The Colorado State Fair did not fail to disappoint in that regard either. I am referring to the sculpture created by David Caricato, Tasting Fear, which is about as clever and original as black coffee.
Maybe it was meant as a homage to Oliver Duhamel
The Jurors for the Fine Art exhibition are both residents of New Mexico, which in this man's opinion is questionable. Colorado has an adequate supply of pompous, highfalutin asshats who can perform the daunting task of sorting treasure from trash when it comes to art. No need to bother our neighbors to the south.
I'd like to be able to state that the Fine Art Exhibition was the only glich in the day, but that would be a vulgar lie. That was actually just the tip of the iceberg.
I'm not one to complain...okay, maybe I am...sometimes...and this is one of those times...but the Colorado State Fair is seriously in need of a few improvements.
And I don't mean fresh paint or an app for the iPhone. I mean real improvements, the type that enhance value.
Here are a few suggestions:
1) All political and social activists need to be given their own pavilion just like the 4H or Fine Arts exhibitors. The Agriculture building does not need to include the various political parties, anti and pro choice zealots, NRA and whatever proponents. Those people are buzzkills of the worst kind. Put them all in one corner of the Fair to satisfy their first amendment rights and also allow people who are at the Fair to enjoy a day with friends and family to not have to deal with being barraged with their (constitutionally protected, I know) crap. Seriously. Do this now.
2) Feature more of the state of Colorado, especially the institutions of higher learning. Where was CU? CSU? the AFA? UNC? The students at these respective colleges have much to contribute, let them.
3) Colorado is the Napa Valley of beer, and the home of one of the largest brewery's in the world. Is this a closely guarded secret? I think not.
4) The state of Colorado is a popular tourist destination for the outdoor enthusiast, year round. Maybe a feature or two on the many, many activities that are available to those types would be in order - from whitewater rafting to mountain climbing, I'm willing to bet there are a number of hobbyist and professionals who wouldn't mind sharing some expertise.
5) The lack of emphasis on local manufacturing and production was disappointing to the nth degree. Seriously, one display from a landscape company? The Fair attracts nearly a fifth of the states residents, make booth space affordable and attractive and get more than haircare products on display.
6) This should be a no-brainer. Install a monorail, train, or gondola type skyride. The San Diego County Fair, held in Del Mar, has had one for forty years. They are not expensive, and everybody loves 'em. Finance it with a municipal bond, and at .50 a rider, it'll be paid off in 5 years - AND YOU CAN BUILD IT WITH LOCALLY PRODUCED STEEL!!! WIN freakin' WIN!
7) Think outside the rodeo. I cannot emphasize this enough.
8) Remove all gender and ethnic identity from all exhibits until after all judging is done. Identify all entrants by initials only. That will truly level the playing field and bring an end to all accusations of gender/race/religious/etc. bias.
Having a Hispanic-specific exhibition is racist, regardless of intention.
Of course, that's all just my opinion. What could I know about making Fairs attractive, successful, and relevant?
I'm just a big blogging idiot who likes Fairs.
No comments:
Post a Comment