The Ellis County fair is over, I’ve been running on caffeine and adrenaline! I feel as though I have walked across the state of Kansas — but my heart is full.
Huge THANK YOU to the incredible people who helped make this fair happen:
To my extension coworkers: Thank you for stepping in (sometimes literally) whenever I needed the help. Whether it was solving problems, hauling show supplies, or making sure I was eating and drinking, you were there.
To the Fair Board: Thank you for the year-round planning, prepping, adjusting, and still managing to laugh through it all. You make it all look easy, even when we know it’s not. I greatly appreciated everything you all do for the 4-H members!
To the superintendents and volunteers: Thank you for spending a few days helping set up the indoor exhibits and the behind the scene work you did to make the fair happen. Whether you were checking in projects, assisting with livestock weigh-in, or sitting with the judge, your time and energy made everything possible. We truly couldn’t do it without you.
To the 4-H parents : Thank you for all the things no one sees: the forgotten fair entries you drove home to get, the snack bags you packed, the animals you helped feed at 7 a.m., and the patience you somehow still had at the end of the week.
And to the amazing 4-H members: You are the reason we do this. Your hard work, positive energy, and growth throughout the week remind me why this program is so special. You’re what makes 4-H more than just a club — you make it a community.
Thank you To everyone who worked in the foodstand, helped during the livestock shows and those who would help whenever I asked! You should be proud of everything you accomplished this past week.
Fair week is long…. It’s hot…. It’s messy….. people get cranky…. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things I get to be part of. So, thank you. From the bottom of my tired, but very grateful heart.
Tamara Robertson