State fair preparations

It’s a few days before the 2023 Kentucky State Fair! Last year was my first year volunteering through my quilting guild, the Louisville Nimble Thimbles, and my first year entering the fair as an adult. I entered a bunch of crafts in the textile department, and won seven ribbons. I was at the fair quite a bit over the 10 days it went on. Not only is there almost too much at the fair to see and do in one day , but there are a bunch of different events and special things going on on different days. It was also fun to explore the fair with different friends and family on different days. There are so many things to do—animals to see, vegetables, tobacco, honey and all the bee displays. There are agricultural booths with farmers and farm representatives, backing their products, giving out samples, telling the cultural importance of their work. There are performances, games, giveaways. The pride of the counties. There’s no more fish tank displays, but it’s hardly noticiable because the fair is still so so full of things.
Every year the new premium book (the book of entry categories) comes out in April or may, and entries close in early July. It’s so fun to read that book and dream about allllll the things you could enter. You could enter a pie, you could enter a handmade sweater, you could enter a home brew beer—there are so many options. In a move to encourage more entries, the fair opted to make it a single $15 entry fee for everything—you could enter however many categories you want to enter all for $15 total. Naturally, I entered 77.
8 baked goods, 17 veggies, and 52 crafts.
Now, I wasn’t expecting to turn in all 77 entries. Sometimes all your pumpkins get eaten. Sometimes you burn your pie. Sometimes you don’t have time to make that quilt. Anyhow, there’s no shame in not making it to the drop off with every single thing.
Now, a day before turn-in day, I have 39 crafts done. I feel like that’s a pretty good turnout. The veggies may be a wash, but I’m sitting here gathering my energy to go bake things. Tomorrow I’m working at the turn in desk from 10-6, and Sunday (on the second drop off day) I’ll drop off my crafts and baked goods. And then I can rest before the fair starts next Thursday. So close. So so close!! It feels like Christmas and I’m thrilled. Ready for all the festivities, ready for the people watching, ready for the celebration of Kentucky!