It’s county fair time! While that may invoke different memories for each of us, the nostalgia of the fair is likely very similar.

I was not a farm kid, nor was I ever involved in 4-H. Neither were my children. So the component of showing animals or getting exhibits ready for the fair is not something I am at all familiar with. Rather, my fair memories consist primarily of rides on the midway and hanging out with my friends.

When I was young, going to the fair was a treat. Money was very tight, so something frivolous like carnival rides was a stretch for my parents. I only remember a couple of times of my parents taking us to the Howard County Fair in St. Paul. My father loved the ferris wheel - in particular, scaring me on the ferris wheel. I refuse to get on one to this day!

In my teen years I was allowed to go to the fair with my friends. I didn’t fully understand then the sacrifice my parents were making by giving me a few dollars for rides and treats, but I do now. My favorite was candied apples! Gosh…it’s been a minute since I’ve had one of those!

My best friend got me on the tilt-a-whirl one year, and unfortunately, my tummy was not happy when we got off! I will spare you the gory details. The bright lights of the midway at night, the smell of funnel cakes, and the sounds of workers beckoning you to try your hand at their game were pretty magical to a 14-year-old. In some ways, it still is.

My joy now comes from sharing that magic with my grandchildren. We have visited the state fair in Grand Island, the Buffalo County Fair in Kearney, and this year we will go to the Lancaster County Fair. It has gotten extremely expensive and is always blistering hot, but Jody and I believe the memories we are creating for the littles are worth it.

Here’s the thing. We have had to select the fair to attend with them based on which ones include a midway. That is, after all, the drawing card for a kid. So, as much as we would love to add the Custer County Fair to the list, it is not an option.

I’m not sure when the county fair in Broken Bow stopped having a midway, but I know it has been a long time. And while I understand that the community does still offer an annual carnival, it’s just not the same. In my mind, is it really even a fair if it doesn’t have a carnival?

While researching county fairs for ideas to visit this year, I was surprised to discover how many are like Custer County - no carnival. The Lincoln County Fair in North Platte doesn’t have one, and there are several others. That said, our county fair is wonderful! We have great entertainment, beautiful grounds, great food options, and lots of exhibits to visit. Compared to other county fairs I’ve attended, ours ranks above them all in those categories. But unfortunately, those are not the things that my young grandchildren find fun, nor would I have as a kid.

So for now, we will attend the Custer County Fair by ourselves and take the littles to another. Either way, though, I am not getting on a ferris wheel!