The last time I wandered wistfully through the homemade jam aisle of the fair was in 2019.
After a pandemic-related hiatus, the San Juan County Fair returned last week, and I was as enthralled as ever.
In the preservation and vegetable section, I was in awe of the oversized onions and colossal cabbages. The extensive art and photography submissions illustrate the incredible talent we have here.
I feel such pride watching our island kids with dust on their boots and smiles on their faces. They raise animals and practice 4-H all year long and spend four days in August showing off all their hard work. Our kids come home with ribbons and a strong sense of accomplishment. It takes considerable time and money to support our youth in these endeavors. Thank you to local families for all of their efforts.
The fair offers an opportunity to discover and admire the creativity, passion and hobbies of our neighbors – young and old. It’s a time to play together, compete against one another, cheer each other on, eat ice cream and celebrate the achievements of friends and neighbors. If you won a ribbon and want to share a photo with the community, email us at editor@islandssounder.com.
I was once again impressed by the staff of community organizations who sit at a booth all day, engaging with the public. At the SAFE San Juans table, I made bracelets with my kids while advocates chatted about healthy relationships and setting boundaries. At the sheriff’s booth, we grabbed free merchandise that encouraged “choosing kindness.” Everywhere we went were smiles and warmth.
As the sun set and live music filled our ears, I felt grateful to all of us in San Juan County for valuing agriculture, the arts and a way of life that sets us apart from the rest of the world.
