2020 was the summer of COVID — and county fairs vanished as quarantining at home became the norm.
This summer, while the virus has by no means been conquered, people are moving around, traveling, and some of that travel is to county fairs. The president and CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, Maria Calico, says fairs have more than just an economic impact for rural communities. She says they offer social and cultural connections. For a youngster getting to participate in the fair is not just about the show ring. She says county fairs change lives. It gives kids a leadership opportunity and a chance to get recognition.
It’s something to keep in mind while traveling, say, to the Van Buren Youth Fair or the fair in Barry County this week.
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