Monday, September 3, 2007

The Tradition Continues

Today marked the 28th year that the Vetter fam has made it the Nebraska State Fair. The first year my bro was hovering around 2 months old and look @ him now!
A lot has changed with the fair in those 28 years. Not all of it good. Much like a lot of things people grow up with - it just ain't what it used to be.

State Fair used to be the place to go to see the latest trend/gadget to have. Those bubble drippers, snap bracelets, charm necklaces, the plate of metal "needles" that you could leave your hand print in, cowboy hat with clip on dangling feathers - most of which came from the Thingsville booth.

They still have the must have gadgets for your home but those don't even seems as great as they used to be - salsa maker anyone?!

Another tradition inside the State Fair that has long since been defunct is getting Pioneer Pictures taken at the Game & Parks display.

We've gone long enough that I grew up watching the high school bands to actually being a part of one there and now am watching them again.

Some things haven't changed though like the food offered. Pineapple Whip ice cream is still a mainstay - although they don't offer it mixed with vanilla anymore. :(

I went to the Iowa State Fair for the first time last year and can sadly understand why some Nebraskans choose to go to that fair instead of ours. (This year Nebraska tried to take a page from the Iowa fair by having a cheese sculptor instead of a butter sculptor in Iowa.) What could be done to make it better? I'm not even sure...

But something tells me, as long as schedules allow the Vetters will continue the annual tradition no matter what shape the fair is in.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It has become one of the mainstays in our lives. A way to be together, make our exchanges,part again-hopefully renewed from the family "fix". The fair itself is a mirror of our precarious family state. (Which will end first? The state fair or our ability to meet and interact there?) Each succeeding year is such a treasure! So happy you were able to come!