In the summer of 1995, I worked a three month internship at The Warroad Pioneer, which I'm sorry to say has since ceased operation. This was the first professional newspaper that I worked for in my career, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I had only worked at Bemidji State University's newspaper for about a year and half before landing the internship. At The Pioneer I gained experience in sports, feature, beat and government reporting. I designed pages, took and developed photographs and was responsible for community relations. The best part is that I remain friends with the owners nearly 30 years later.
July 11, 1995
By Devlyn Brooks
This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to my hometown fair in Fertile. The Polk County Fair (know to Fertilians as the Fertile Fair) is, like most others, a time of homecoming. Many native sons and daughters return to visit with their parents, neighbors and classmates, and of course to see the fair.
It's funny though, isn't it? ... The pull that these fairs have on us. I don't really know about other towns, but Fertile is in breathless anticipation for the fair by the time it hits June 1. In fact, if you are ever roaming the streets of this quaint little village during those first few early weeks of summer, take a peek in one of the mom and pop restaurants. You'll see dozens of people sitting around in distinctive shades of blue and purple due to the fact that they are holding their breath 'til fair time. (The good citizens received a little break this year as the fair was held a week earlier than usual.)
Usually around the second week in July, motorists passing through town will notice a strong gust of wind buffeting their windshields. This is all the pent up air that the town is releasing come the first day of the fair.
Yes, as usual, I did it up at the fair. I spent many an hour walking the midway, enjoying the humorous banters of th game stand employees. And to tell you the truth, I think they lost this year. ... I believe I only spent $10 on games.
I also walked through all the livestock buildings and appreciated the gentle wafting aromas the way only a person who has never lived on a farm can. I do feel sorry for those poor farm folk who are so immune that they can't appreciate the splendid(?) odor of fresh manure.
I visited the arts and crafts barns and uttered the token, "Ooh, I bet that took a long time," the "Wow, what a pretty ... pretty ... that sure is a nice thing," and of course the "Now, how did we ever live without that electrical, hand-held manure scooper built for the 4-H contest?"
And, of course, I attacked the food stands like I was a man just released from a Weight Watchers diet. Of course, I wasn't on one, but after the fair maybe I should be! I ate so many corndogs, cheeseburgers, footlong hotdogs and Oof Da tacos that I no longer need to use gel in my hair. I'm sweating enough grease through my pores as it is.
The coop de gracy (as Daffy Duck says) of it all was, of course ... the demolition derby. Well, it is the climax of the fair in Fertile, but it isn't for me. I don't really enjoy them all that much; however, if I didn't attend the demo, my hometown would wonder if maybe I weren't one of those Commies.
Yet, even with all the previously mentioned delights, I'm still curious as to what draws us to fairs like little ants drawn to picnics. We all know that when it is over, we'll complain that ride ticket prices were too high and the food made us sick. Every year, an out-of-towner will win the demo, and it will rain at least half the days of the fair. We'll spend too much money, and the token, past-their-prime country singer won't perform up to par. And, still we go.
Maybe all these nuisances aren't really that much to bear in the bigger picture. Maybe there is a connection felt between generations because the fair is one of the last places where toddlers, teenagers and teenagers-at-heart can all enjoy themselves.
And, in a time of drug dealers, guns, high crime and low education rates, AIDS ... and despair, maybe -- to steal a line from the movie "Field of Dreams" -- "It reminds us of all that once was good and could be again."
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