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Best of NAMA 2025












IT'S COUNTY FAIR TIME - A SPECIAL SALUTE
Source: editorial by The Delmarva Farmer newspaper

'Twas the night before fair
And all through the farm
The family was hurrying
On the verge of alarm

Entry tags scattered
Across the kitchen table
As the kids picked one-by-one
Of their projects to label

The next day they will go
To the fairgrounds loaded
With all the trinkets and items
Properly set, distinctly coded

Though they were far from that now
And the hour was getting late
Nothing would stop them
From making the date

They worked far too hard
To not complete the mission
Besides, staying up late
Had become a tradition

The youngest of the bunch,
Age ten and three-quarters
Was charged with taping
Photos to matte borders

"This one better place,"
She said with complete confidence
Of a shot of her horse, Darling
Behind a split-rail fence

To her right was the oldest,
Her last year in 4-H
Sewing the hem on a dress
Trimmed out in lace

Her last record book written
Her last Fashion Revue
In a few months it's college
And everything's new

On the floor near the door
Sat what the kids made at camp:
A birdhouse, a glass mosaic,
A decoupaged lamp

Laundry and dishes
Each piled high
Put on hold until
After the fair has gone by

The stovetop was glowing
Each burner ablaze
Steadily blanching vegetables
For jars they will save

The oven was filled
With cakes from each child
Soon to come out
And get decoratively styled

The two middle children
Twin boys age thirteen
Were back from the barn
Keeping the animals clean

Two steers, three hogs and a lamb
They will be taking tomorrow
Tack and gear all loaded
For the seasons' first show

Show pants washed and ironed
And shirts just the same
All part of the process
To reach livestock ring fame

The Dad stayed outside
Beneath a towering oak
Fixing lights on the trailer
He just remembered were broke

Then there's the Mother
Rock of the crew
Directing the traffic
Of what's next to do

"Time for bed," she says
"Tomorrow we'll finish"
They may be worn out
But their spirit won't diminish

Up to their rooms they trudge
Destined for slumber
Stepping over woodworking projects
That started as lumber

The next morning after breakfast
To the garden they'll go,
Rounding up more entries
From each weeded row

With the van fully packed
They all make the haul
Exhausted, but ready
Knowing they'll have a ball!


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