April Fool’s Day is upon us, but this is no joke. The 2017 county fair season is a lot closer than you think. I have June 1 circled on my calendar. That’s the day I travel to Floyd County to judge projects for the county fair, which opens a few days later.

Here are 10 reasons to be glad fair season is nearby. These are also 10 reasons to check out a county fair.

1. Go for the food! The fish and tenderloin sandwiches served by a local group at the Decatur County Fair are to die for. I couldn’t decide which I wanted, so I had one of each!

2. Go for the kiddie rides. OK, true confession. I don’t fit in the red, green and blue fish cars that circle a pole on bars every day for a week. But my grandkids do. It’s fun to see the smiles on their faces each time they come around.

3. Go for the food! If you love ice cream, you need a milkshake from the Farm Bureau at the Johnson County Fair. Follow it up with homemade ice cream made in old-time ice cream freezers by the Indian Creek FFA. The two booths are only 50 feet apart, so you can waddle from one to another!

4. Go for the livestock competition. The Master Showmanship contest is still a big deal at the Jackson County Fair, and rightfully so. You can watch experienced showmen and women show everything from pigs to dairy cows.

5. Go for the food! The dairy people in Putnam County are so into sweet treats that they built an ice cream booth just inside the dairy barn. You can get ice cream and other dairy treats while looking at the cows that produced the milk! What a country!

6. Go for the FFA exhibits. County fairs are typically about 4-H, but in Jackson County, they’re also about FFA. The four FFA chapters in the county join forces to fill a giant display area and permanent building with all kinds of things built by FFA members.

7. Go for the food! You won’t go hungry at the Morgan County Fair. A whole street is devoted to organizations that offer all kinds of food and treats. You can even buy freshly made doughnuts from the Boy Scout booth, and eat them on the spot.

8. Go for the 4-H programs. The best of 4-H is on display when it’s dairy show day at the Boone County Fair. Charlie Carter and family allow kids to prepare and show dairy heifers, working their tails off all year long. You can find up to a couple dozen kids and animals in the ring on show day at one time or another, all because Carter and family care about what 4-H teaches.

9. Go for the food! Beaver tails, elephant ears and Polish sausages with all the fixings all beg you to give them a try at the Marion County Fair. The midway and food concessions at this fair near Wanamaker rival the state fair!

10. Go for the fun! Who can resist smiling back at a hay bale with a smiley face painted on it? It’s just one of the things that make you smile at the Jackson County Fair. Step onto almost any fairgrounds and you’ll find something to smile about!