By JENNIFER BUBE, guest columnist
It’s that time of year, folks.
I can almost smell the smokiness of the ribeyes wafting from the 4-H’ers booths, or taste the tartness of a shaken lemon drink.
A year’s worth of sweat, feed and knowledge is soon to be shepherded into our barns and the pride of our youth displayed through projects in the green building.
Our neighbors and new faces will shortly settle into their booth spaces, eager to share the good news of their work and message throughout the community.
There is really no singular way which lends this affair to be a special occasion. Much like the ribbons on each entry, there are too many winners to count.
That being said, I think there is one aspect that we can all agree shines its way to the top.
Whether you’re newly planted in town or your residential roots run deep in time, walking into our county fair feels like a family reunion. Living in a place that beckons and thrives on our draws for visitors, it’s special to see the times we come together truly for ourselves.
In a conversation with one of our esteemed former Extension educators, they praised our fair as an event done “by the community, for the community.” These words lingered in my thoughts during the final years of my own 4-H season; they echoed in my ears as I moved on from the place that I cherished and called home. A community of care that no matter where my journey takes me, will always be my home.
So thank you to YOU — to the local business owners who practice their craft, to the leaders and the followers in our town’s most honored organizations, the visitors who give us the opportunity to share our space, to the youth who carry on our story, and to the people of our beautiful Brown County who make it so.
I especially want to thank in writing all of our spectacular sponsors from last year’s Brown County Fair Queen pageant: Agape Pearls; the Brown County Fair Board; the Brown County Playhouse; Carol’s Gifts; Foxfire Boutique; Graceful Lady of Fort Branch, IN; La Sha’s; Main Street Images; Michael’s Flowers; New Beginnings Boutique; Simply 4 You; The Country Store; The Emerald Pencil; The Lawrence Family and Twisted Wick. Thanks to Gene Niednagel and friends at the Lions Club for another spectacular Spring Blossom Parade and inviting our court to join them. Thank you to Maggie Evans for coordinating the pageant and keeping all of us girls on our toes — and in our heels and hose!
Finally, I would love to give a bit of gratitude to my family and friends whose encouragement led me to our county stage last year and whose support brings me to where I am today.
As your 2018 Brown County Fair queen (and neighbor from down the hills and hollers), I look forward to seeing you at this year’s county fair. With warm thoughts and well wishes, I trust that our incoming fair queen will do us all proud at the local and state levels.
Fair-ly soon, next time you ride by Memorial Drive, the glow of the midway won’t be just an imaginary glisten in your eye. So whether you’re a newcomer or a native of Nashville, you can be sure that our county fair really is fun for all — and that our county truly can be home for all.
The Brown County Fair will kick off this year on Saturday, July 27 and come to a close on Saturday, Aug. 3. Join us this year for a wonderful week of family fun and a town tradition.
Jennifer Bube is the reigning Brown County Fair queen. Her successor will be crowned starting at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 28 at the fairgrounds.
