Fun at Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa

Bright sunny day here in Clarinda, IA at 11:00 am Wednesday - 76º with predicted high of 88º.

Have had a very entertaining and enjoyable time since last Friday when we took Patty Steckelberg with us and pulled the trailer to Spencer, IA and set up on the campgrounds Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights.  A few sprinkles on us as we got to Spencer and set up the trailer and then it rained in the evening, all night and into Saturday morning.  Before noon the rain had quit and rest of the day was enjoyable.  Sunday and Monday were bright sunny days.  CLICK HERE for info on the Clay County Fair,  Reputed to be the largest and best County Fair in the US.  It covers something under 60 acres of land.  

2021 CLAY COUNTY FAIR BY THE NUMBERS

YOUTH INVOLVEMENT - 767 4-H and FFA exhibitors from 42 counties in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska participated in livestock and human sciences events at the Fair.

Approximately 1,300 third and fourth grade students from 16 regional schools visited the Fair as part of the AgCiting and SciCiting field trip programs coordinated by ISU Extension Clay County.

FAIRGOER SPENDING - Fairgoer spending on food, beverage, specialty concessions, and carnival rides totaled $2,676,516.97, breaking an all-time record set in 2017.

Fairgoer spending set three single-day records for the first Sunday (Sept. 12), Wednesday (Sept. 15), and the second Saturday (Sept. 18).

GoldStar Amusements set single-day records for carnival ride revenue eight of the nine days of the Fair, including an all-time single-day record on Saturday, Sept. 18.

EXHIBITOR PARTICIPATION - 456 commercial exhibitors, concessionaires, and vendors showcased at the Fair. With at least 150 ag-specific exhibitors, the Fair again hosted the largest farm machinery and ag equipment show at any fair in the United States.

1,376 exhibitors participated in various open class livestock and non-livestock competitions.

ATTENDANCE - The Sleep Number Grandstand attracted 18,585 fairgoers to multiple stage performances and dirt events. The top two attended events were Skillet with special guest Ledger (2,763) and Josh Turner with special guest Dillon Carmichael (2,698).

 CLICK HERE   for story on Leroy Van Dike.  The primary reason we went this year was to see the Leroy Van Dyke Country Gold Show on Monday night.  

The show was about 2.5 hours long with each entertainer performing 5 to 7 songs and several of the band members from The Auctioneer's Band entertained individually also.

Us at the Country Gold Tour show

At left - Chris Malpass, Jimmy Fortune, David Frizzell, and Taylor Malpass.

At right - David Frizzell, T. Graham Brown, with Taylor Malpass.

At left - The Malpass Brothers (Chris & Taylor) with Mandy Barnett.

At right - Leroy Van Dyke -- it was his show, Country Gold Tour.  CLICK HERE for story on Leroy.  He will be 93 years old in October, talked considerable about Sedalia, MO where he grew up and graduated from High School.  He is going strong.  His youngest son plays in his "Auctioneer Band".  He wrote and sang "The Auctioneer" in 1956 and it has been a top song all these years.

We got a lot of walking exercise - here are some pictures of some of the things we saw and did.

Got some sandwiches in a little eatery, Jones Lunch on Monday.  Little place - note the apron curtains.

Had some pork one day.

Played some Pegs & Jokers

at the trailer.

Quite a K-9 Disc Connected show.  These are all trained, rescued dogs - headquarters in Florida.  Think he had about 5 or 6 dogs.  Click HERE to get some background on them.  Amazing work, this guy is almost a "dog whisperer" 

Lots of photos --- and a lot that I took and have not posted.  Fun 3 days, with a lot of exercise -- more walking than we are used to.

I will add this that I just read:  

What true love is:

"My parents were married for 55 years. One morning, my mom was going downstairs to make dad breakfast, she had a heart attack and fell. My father picked her up as best he could and almost dragged her into the truck. At full speed, without respecting traffic lights, he drove her to the hospital.

When he arrived, unfortunately she was no longer with us.

During the funeral, my father did not speak; his gaze was lost. He hardly cried.

That night, his children joined him. In an atmosphere of pain and nostalgia, we remembered beautiful anecdotes and he asked my brother, a theologian, to tell him where Mom would be at that moment. My brother began to talk about life after death, and guesses as to how and where she would be.

My father listened carefully. Suddenly he asked us to take him to the cemetery.

"Dad!" we replied, "it's 11 at night, we can't go to the cemetery right now!"

He raised his voice, and with a glazed look he said:

"Don't argue with me, please don't argue with the man who just lost his wife of 55 years."

There was a moment of respectful silence, we didn't argue anymore. We went to the cemetery, and we asked the night watchman for permission. With a flashlight, we reached the tomb. My father caressed her, prayed, and told his children, who watched the scene, moved:

"It was 55 years... you know? No one can talk about true love if they have no idea what it's like to share life with a woman."

He paused and wiped his face. "She and I, we were together in that crisis. I changed jobs ..." he continued. "We packed up when we sold the house and moved out of town. We shared the joy of seeing our children finish their careers, we mourned the departure of loved ones side by side, we prayed together in the waiting room of some hospitals, we support each other in pain, we hug each Christmas, and we forgive our mistakes... Children, now it's gone, and I'm happy, do you know why?

Because she left before me. She didn't have to go through the agony and pain of burying me, of being left alone after my departure. I will be the one to go through that, and I thank God. I love her so much that I wouldn't have liked her to suffer..."

When my father finished speaking, my brothers and I had tears streaming down our faces. We hugged him, and he comforted us, "It's okay, we can go home, it's been a good day."

That night I understood what true love is; It is far from romanticism, it does not have much to do with eroticism, or with sex, rather it is linked to work, to complement, to care, and, above all, to the true love that two really committed people profess."

Peace in your hearts.

Author: Unknown

Until next time, Lynn