Learning Life Lessons at the Fair

Today we are talking about learning life lessons at the fair. It is a place of fun, family, food, and fellowship. Do you remember the first time you went to the fair as a child? It is a place to reminisce every time you go. You see people young and old walking around, riding rides, laughing, sweating, and having fun. Remember that first gold fish you won as a child by throwing the ball in the fish bowl? Ah the memories.

Family Time

It is a time of year that many people wait for and go to every year. From farm animals, to the show ring, to rides, deep fried food, and learning about our state, I spent yesterday learning life lessons at the fair. It is amazing how just the smells (of food and animals) can take you back in time to several memories when you were a kid. There is nothing in the world like family bonding time. The Indiana State Fair reminded me how important family bonding time is. I love watching people interact. It is a part of my love for psychology. I enjoyed watching little kids ride on shoulders of their daddy. Remember doing that and feeling so tall as a child? I loved watching the teenagers walk around using their cell phones to make videos and showing off their latest outfit. My how times have changed. I also like to see older folks walking through buildings and teaching the younger generations about how to farm or how honey is made and not just bought at their local store.

Determination and Education

Pigs, horses, cows, goats, sheep, oh my. Raising an animal all by yourself is hard work. Kids learn a lot at the fair. They learn what it takes to live a healthy life and do your best. Fair judges look for many things when it comes to each animal in competitions. They look for how they walk, their health, their lines, and how they are taken care of overall like us as humans. How we take care of ourselves gains us prizes in the end or our future life. How sound are you in your structure or character in life? Learn how to be a better person, patience, how to make a friend, etc. There are many lessons to learn about life at the fair. This is not something you just show up to do (show an animal). It takes determination and character to work with your animal to get them ready before the big state fair. You learn social and life skills like leadership, how to increase your self esteem, public speaking, what hard work looks like, and about responsibility. The fair also teaching about other things to do besides looking at the tv or their cell phone all the time. It is a true educational experience for many. You see plants grown, learn about our past history, farming, our agriculture, where our locally grown food comes from, arts and crafts, and other great events around the fair. Whether you walk away with a ribbon or not, it is all worth the time and effort when you care for an animal.

Food and Rides

One of the main reasons why many people go to the fair is the fabulous food. A child sure can teach you about what the best food is as they want to try everything in sight, including the deep fried oreos. As soon as you enter the fair the food smells so good. It is hard to resist. Taste your local apple cider in a slushie. It was so good, by the way. What is your favorite fair food? I have a hard time leaving the fair without a corn dog or cotton candy.

The rides are so much fun too. What is your favorite ride? Do you remember your first roller coaster ride? The looks of a child’s face after riding their first fair ride is priceless. Make sure you capture this moment on video or camera and save it for years in a scrapbook or their own time capsule. Better yet, make a Family Time Capsule using our “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsule and save photos, souvenirs, ticket stubs, videos, and other special mementos in it for years.

You can get this DIY Time Capsule here to start saving your memories now. Put a “Do NOT Open Until Date” on the lid of your Family Time Capsule. Then 20, 30, or 50 years in the future open your Family Time Capsule and reminisce again together about what it was like at that time in your lives together.

So what is your favorite part about the fair? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie