Our Viewpoint: That's what a county fair should be like

I wasn't expecting to spend all weekend at the fair. My mom and I judge 4-H cooking, baking and cake decorating on Thursday. It's tradition. This was our fourth year, and it's great to see the kids come back each year and be more open and comfortable with their interviews and their cooking skills.

And it's become tradition for me to work with my pal Heidi in the beer booth on Friday night. It's a great way to see all sorts of people, make new friends, and help out the Sanders County Fair Foundation, which is a nonprofit that helps the fair with a variety of projects.

That's traditionally what my fair experience is, along with sampling various fair foods.

I'm not sure what was different about this year's fair, but I wanted to be down there all weekend. I attended the 4-H livestock auction on Sunday, which included about a dozen more animals that last year, many returning buyers, and some new faces. It's fun to watch grandparents get in a bidding war and to see if auctioneer Kevin Hill can get the shyest of kids to open up and crack a smile.

Last weekend I had some friends visiting from Three Forks who had never been to our county fair. From the moment we stepped on the grounds Saturday evening, my visitors were raving about the exhibits, the vendors, and the quality of the rodeo.

One of my favorite things is when someone visits Sanders County for the first time. Hearing people talk about how great our area is reminds me to not take advantage of where we live. I had that same feeling at the fair last weekend. I got to see old friends, made some new ones, and everyone I talked to was excited to be there.

I appreciate that the fair board has kept parking prices reasonable and that there is no admission so everyone can come enjoy our fair. I appreciate the amount of hours that go into planning and preparation. There is so much going on behind the scenes that visitors never get to see. To the fair staff, board and all the volunteers who worked booths, did barn duty at 2 a.m. and helped keep the fairgrounds clean, thank you for creating such an awesome experience. This year's fair made me feel the same energy as when I was a young 4-H member and just wanted to hang out in Plains all weekend with my friends. I can't wait until next year!

­ — Annie Wooden