We are home recovering from the Pottawatomie County Fair.
For the first time in four days, I have the chance to do more than run home, do chores, sleep, pack up for the next day, and drive back. Whew.
I’m new to 4-H, newly married to a farmer, new to chickens, and hogs and cattle. I grew up with horses, but just mainly as a hobby, although once in a
while we’d go help an uncle with his ranch; I grew up in Colorado, lived in Wyoming, but was transplanted to Baltimore, Maryland, and Trenton, New Jersey,
for a while. Boy, am I glad to be back! When we were there, people would ask me what was the same, and I’d say “nothing.”
My son and I are sort of starting our lives over here on the farm, and 4-H has been a great part of our transition. I’m impressed with the level of
commitment from families, and also from the kids, most of whom spend untold hours with their animals, or working on projects like foods or clothing, making
rockets, or taking photos. As my husband says, “4-H teaches you the ‘R’ word – Responsibility.”
We are lucky in Pottawatomie County – the kids are able to run around where ever they want. The young ones check back in with the parents and off they go
again. For the kids, it is the big social event of the year. There is a large county near us and their fair is fine, but there’s a carnival, and I’m just not
comfortable turning my back on a small child. But in our little Pott County, everybody seems to know everybody. It is a comfortable feeling, knowing who the
extension agent is, knowing people beyond just the ones in our club. Even if you do get recruited to be the Poultry Supervisor. I’m looking forward to it. I
think.
It is astonishing to see how people work together. When we set up for the fair, my first time was last year, I remember thinking that all it takes to
accomplish a lot in a little amount of time was to recruit a bunch of farmers. How do you know when you’re done? When my husband can’t find anything else to
do.
I am looking forward to being a GRIT blogger and I hope we can journey together “There and Back Again.”
Paula Ebert