Fair offers unique sounds, smells, sights

A good number of us have just experienced that most magical time of year in Roosevelt County — fair time.

The sights, the sounds, the smells. I could list a million of them if I had the time and the newsprint. Here's a few to keep the memory alive until next year.

The sights

• Tattoos on the fat gals wandering the carnival.

• Little girls learning to dance atop their daddy's boots.

• A goodie bag brimming with magnets, fly swatters, potholders, yardsticks, pens and bubble gum.

• Little kids eatin' great big corn dogs.

• A young boots and jeans clad gal arm-in-arm with her first beau.

• Little cowboys in big straw hats.

• A beaming youngster showing his puppy at the pet show.

• A tired mom giving up another $20 bill to her offspring.

• A proud mom jockeying for position to take a photo of daughter with lamb.

• The kaleidoscope of color from a ferris wheel at night.

• The carpet of light and humanity from atop that ferris wheel.

The sounds

• Screaming kids on carnival rides

• Little kids puking up great big corn dogs after those carnival rides.

• Pig squeals that hurt your ear drums.

• Carnival barkers goading young dads to "try it one more time sir."

• Bawling heifers tied in the dairy barn.

• Bawling, cranky kids in strollers on the midway.

• Neighbors greeting neighbors.

• The cackle of a pen full of laying hens.

• The buzz of electric clippers perfectly shaping a lamb's backside.

• Laughter from a crowd.

• The sharp rap of the auctioneer's gavel denoting success after months of hard work.

The smells

• Fryer grease clinging to the air over the tater and funnel cake booth.

• Cow manure on a city dude's loafers.

• The poultry barn after a rainstorm.

• The sweet smell of cotton candy.

• The sweet smell of sawdust in the show ring.

• The aroma of slow-cookied barbecue brisket on the breeze.

• Fresh cut leather in the leathercraft section of the 4-H barn.

• Fresh baked cookies stuffed in fancy cookie jars.

• The scent of alfalfa hay tossed out among the steers.

• Smoked pork chops for breakfast.