From the delicious smell of the sugary goodness of funnel cakes to the heart-pumping exhilaration of carnival rides to the ear-to-ear smiles of 4-H winners, nothing embodies small-town Americana like county fairs.

These events serve many roles in our communities often becoming part festival, part family reunion, part showcase — and everything in between. Anyone who thinks the county fair is only for farmers or those who live in the country has no idea what they are missing.

Although it will be a few weeks before I get my first experience at the Berrien and Cass county fairs, my passion for these cultural extravaganzas has roots in my days in 4-H as a youth who grew up on a 40-acre farm in southern Ohio.

Over the years I have seen, indisputably, that county fairs change lives.

They provide safe and positive activities for families. From Midway-style attractions to big-name musical entertainment to countless animal shows, there is something for everyone.

The economic impact helps makes our communities better places to live. Thousands of people will visit these events, spending their hard-earned money here in southwest Michigan. Every dollar gets re-circulated a dozen times or more, helping to employ local people and injecting life into the economy.

Fairs and the 4-H programs that drive them teach youth countless invaluable lessons about responsibility, hard work, leadership, commitment, public speaking and more.

So take time to learn what the Cass county Fair — set to run July 27 to Aug. 2 — and the Berrien County Fair — scheduled for Aug. 11 to 16 — have to offer. Leader Publications’ newspapers will offer detailed previews as well as coverage to showcase these important events.

County fairs ground us and remind us where we came from. Even most “city slickers” like me have some country roots. Agriculture — and the values instilled at county fairs — is an integral part of all our lives, whether we realize it or not.

 

Michael Caldwell is the publisher of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.