Welcome to the Solanco Fair!

This past week was fair time down here in the Southern End, and for those of you who don't know...it's the next best thing, only to Christmas for all of us! While a lot of fairs have gotten into the whole flashy midway and rides type deal, the Solanco Fair is holding fast to its roots as a true celebration of agriculture and community. Everything starts on Wednesday, with the parade. The whole fair lasts through Friday, and you can partake in all sorts of activities from watching the livestock judging and auction to admiring all of the pies, produce, crafts, and displays that local families and businesses have entered. It's widely regarded as "homecoming" for the community, and a chance to catch up with everyone that you don't see the rest of the year.

In addition to all the incredible food and fun, I'd have to say that one of my favorite parts is the livestock auction. Of course I like it for all of the adorable animals, but actually the main reason is that I have fun watching the families and friends of those who are showing their animals. In a way, it's one of the best means of getting a good picture of how strong family-to-family bonds are here. Behind the scenes, the kids showing send out letters notifying local businesses and families that they'll have an animal up for bid. When you see the turnout of people coming to bid on Friday night then, even if they don't have much use for a pig or a steer, it's a really cool thing. It's also neat to keep track of the families that will buy each other's animals every single year, as a further means of cementing their friendships. And of course, there's always the friendly rivalry between the two local grocers over who will get the grand champion steer.

All of these probably seem trivial to a lot of outsiders, but they're some of the stuff that keeps Southern Lancaster County going, year after year. It's what sets us apart and this strong community is what allows us to pass through the generations, seemingly untouched by the outside world. It's the heart of a small-town farming community, and I couldn't imagine being happier anywhere else in the world. :o)