June 25, 2019
Congratulations and That Season is Upon Us!
Let’s start out with a heartfelt “Congratulations!” to Dr. Ernie Minton. Dr. Minton was named as our Director of K-State Research and Extension and Dean of the College of Agriculture. Dr. Minton has a profound love and respect for Kansas, the Land Grant mission areas, and K-State Research and Extension. We will do well under his leadership.
Next, it is that time of year again. Fair season is upon us.
Do I know what facilitating a fair is like? My only direct experience is watching my parents, who were active on our fair board and various Extension committees for decades, our agent friends, and all of the adult volunteers who work very hard under stressful situations to make the fair and 4-H project exhibition a success.
We arrived way before the Whitcomb Methodist Church opened up its tent to serve breakfast, and we left an hour or two after the last ride on the midway shut down for the night. My last ride for the night was always the Scrambler. In between, there would be laughter, celebrations, consolations, an increasing and easing of tensions throughout the day (particularly among adults), and, at the end of the week, a collective sigh of relief. Most important, the participating youth, including me, learned and gained life skills that would empower them to be engaged and productive citizens and leaders in the years to come.
Sadly, that most important part often seems to be the most overlooked. The youth may not realize it is happening. Parents and other adults often get consumed by ribbon fever. The focus of Extension professionals, project and club volunteers, and the fair board naturally begins to center on fair operations and, too often, conflict and issue management among adults. It can be stressful.
Understanding and reminding ourselves about the “Why?” behind what we do can help reduce the stress associated with fair season. Place written reminders and give yourself and other adults positive reminders that we engage in the fair and project activities to further empower our youth with the education, life skills, and confidence needed to enable them to build a better tomorrow for themselves and their communities.
Need another fair "destresser?" Take time to hop on the Scrambler, or whatever is your amusement park ride of choice, and give yourself a few moments of fun each and every day of the fair.
Have a happy fair season, everybody!