It’s Fair Time!
The first full week of June is always a very busy week for our family and others in Grimes County. The 57th Annual Grimes County Fair began June 4th and will run until the 13th. Various activities can be enjoyed at the fairgrounds in Navasota, Texas. From market animal shows to rodeos and food preparation contests to dances, the county fair hosts a variety of activities for the young to the very old.
Jake showing a pig in the Pee Wee Swine Show last year.
In fact, Wednesday is Senior Citizens Day as well as Children’s Day. Pee Wee Shows run all day as young children practice showing market animals to gain some experience. Jake participated in this event for three years in a row and has gained some insight in the process of showing an animal.
On two back to back nights this weekend citizens came out in droves to support the rodeo events. My three oldest children rode in the grand entry both nights as members of the Grimes County Jr. Deputy Sheriff’s Mounted Posse. My husband and I were very proud of how they handled their horses and represented the county.
Kyla modeling her dress and purse. It took her a combined time of 19 hours of work to complete her ensemble.
This year my boys, Clayton and Jake, only entered photographs to be judged. Kyla loves fair time. She works all year making items to enter. She entered four photographs, jalapeno jelly, butterscotch brownies, whole wheat bread, and molasses crinkle cookies. Kyla also entered a t-shirt that she had embellished, a beautiful dress she made, and its matching purse. All of my children are very anxious to see how they did.
The fair is not just about showing animals or various projects. It is about supporting the youth. Individuals, companies, and organizations band together to raise money in order to award scholarships to the hard-working youth in Grimes County. Thursday night is the Premium Sale where the best of the best projects are auctioned off. This is where all the hard work of the child during the past year pays off. Friday night is the Freezer Sale where other qualified projects are sold.
If you have children and think that participating in something like this would be fun and full of learning experiences, then check into the requirements for your local fair. For example in Grimes County, a child has to be a member of 4-H or FFA (Future Farmers of America.) Both organizations are great helping children learn skills and compete with others. They both also have plenty of scholarship opportunities. My children are members of 4-Hers-on-the-Brazos, which is a group full of homeschooling families.
If you are in the area, I would highly recommend a visit to the Grimes County Fair. You can see the schedule here. However, more than likely you live too far away. Still I encourage you to visit and help support the fair in your area. It is a taste of the country and rural life even in the biggest cities. It is where children are still being taught to can vegetables, quilt, raise livestock, and enjoy a good rodeo.
