We pull up the truck to a familiar smell of fried food and livestock. It’s a warm evening in late July, and the Illinois humidity envelopes me like an old friend. A rainbow of color swirls through the air, as children squeal for joy at carnival rides.

My senses delight and a rush of nostalgia comes over me. It’s Menard County Fair week.

The county fair holds a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of so many others. Fairs celebrate some of my favorite parts of rural life — family, community, food and livestock. The fair is a time of fun and laughter, but it means so much more than corn dogs and carnival rides.

The love of the county fair spans generations. There’s a photo of my parents showing cattle in the mid-1970s. It’s a photo of my dad, with my mom and Grandpa Kenny in the background. My parents lived on opposite ends of the county and wouldn’t meet until college. Little did they know that just over a decade later, they’d fall in love and raise children who would show at the same fairgrounds.

GENERATIONS: My dad (yellow hat) is showing with my mom (light blue shirt), while my Grandpa Kenny (pink shirt) watches the cattle show. Funny enough, my parents wouldn’t actually meet until college nearly 15 years later. (Photos courtesy of Betty Haynes)

The county fair reminds us of those we love. The Menard County Fair will always remind me of my Grandpa Kenny. The only fairs he missed were while serving in the Korean War. In his last year on Earth, Grandpa celebrated his 93rd birthday in the bleachers at his 76th Menard County Fair cattle show. He was seated proudly beside my daughter, Clare, who was just 9 months old. A special day for sure.

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GRANDPA: My mom, Nancy; daughter, Clare; and Grandpa Kenny watch the 2022 Menard County Fair steer show on Grandpa’s 93rd birthday.

The county fair brings families together. Cattle was one of Grandpa’s passions, and he passed that on to his children and grandchildren. We all spent summers showing cattle together, and although we rarely won a blue ribbon, that’s where we made some of my favorite childhood memories. The show ring undoubtedly made us a closer family — and looking back, I’m confident that’s what Grandpa wanted.

FAMILY: My cousins, brother, Grandpa Kenny and I pose after showing in the 2013 Menard County Fair steer show.

The county fair sparks joy. When I met my husband, Dan, I was excited to share our county fair with him. He was a Missourian, but quickly got involved with Menard County Farm Bureau events on the fairgrounds. The fair took on a new meaning for me, becoming almost romantic with concerts, fair food dates and fireworks with the man I love.

FAIR DATE: My husband, Dan, and I watch the fireworks together at the Menard County Fair.

And the best thing about the county fair? We get the chance to make new memories every year. Nothing beats seeing the fair through my daughter’s eyes, and to share this piece of Menard County that I love so much. This year, Clare was 2 at the county fair. It’s the first year she’s been able to really enjoy the fair — riding carnival rides with her friends, eating cheeseburgers and watching livestock shows. Everything was magic this year, and I’m already counting down the days until the 2025 Menard County Fair.

FAIR FUN: My daughter, Clare, runs toward the carnival this year with one of her best buddies.

Do you have a favorite county fair memory? Email [email protected].