In the 21st century there are millions of people who’ve never seen the sights or sounds of a county fair.

They’re something that’s not possible to fully appreciate without a firsthand impression. You have to check out the exhibits, stroll through the animal barns, sample the food, and enjoy the entertainment.

In looking back at going to local fairs over the years, I’d say my three favorite components are beef commercials, chocolate malts and the free stage.

That’s just a small portion of what county fairs offer. They always come together for a total experience, one that takes much of a day to completely absorb.

Many people my age and older talk about how most of the current fairs are smaller than they were in the past. The exhibit buildings and livestock barns aren’t as full. We don’t have nearly the crowd lining the midway as what can be seen in old photos.

We wonder what the future will bring. We speculate that at some point small county fairs will shut down. They might regionalize in a way similar to how University Extension educators became regionally focused 20 years ago.

Many people hope that it never happens because of what county fairs still bring to local residents. Three of the foremost benefits are youth leadership, interaction between generations, and the preservation of rural culture.

Youth leadership always comes across strongly through the 4-H program. Members usually begin as Cloverbuds with very basic projects.

Their experience pays off as the years in 4-H add up. By the time they’re teenagers, they explain topics in enough depth to offer information that’s new to everyone except professional experts.

The intergenerational dynamic is obvious in the way children can enjoy a fair with parents and grandparents, how it’s possible to take an interest at any age.

Many of the exhibit topics; such as foods, clothing, gardening and shop projects; center around life skills that have been important for many years. At a county fair, they’re showcased in an era when many people no longer possess them. It ensures that “lost arts” won’t vanish altogether.

The rural culture of each fair is best shown in the livestock barns and in general projects that relate to crops or soil. A fair is often the only occasion when the non-farm public sees those things in person.

As farms comprise a much smaller share of the population, it’s important for the public to know where we get our food.

They should see the care and concern that goes into maintaining a safe, steady food supply. There’s a need to recognize how agriculture is still a vital part of the global economy even with the massive changes that took place in recent years.

The county fair remains as a locally based event that highlights all of those principles. People might come to a fair mainly to attend a grandstand event or to give kids a chance to try out the midway, but while they attend they get a firsthand look at an overall way of life.

It remains to be seen whether local fairs will always stay viable. A lot of it depends on the many individuals who make up towns and the countryside.

Attendance is one component. If people make it a point to get out to the fair each year they help to ensure enough of a crowd. Even people with no direct connection to the farm sector should make themselves part of it during fair week.

There might also be a need to partner more extensively with other local organizations. Schools, scouts, church youth groups and summer recreation programs could all benefit by in some way participating in their fair.

Senior citizen centers might be a good avenue for adult open class exhibits. Many people have retirement hobbies that could easily fit in as fair entries.

At least for now I’ll keep enjoying annual beef commercials, chocolate malts, entertainment and all the rest that goes into every fair. Hopefully future generations will enjoy it just as much.

— Jim Muchlinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent