State Fair Entries, a Rural American Tradition

In July, we start thinking hard about the Alaska State Fair. Berries are ripe for making jams and jellies. Some vegetables are ready to harvest and flowers are ready for bouquets. We gather the things we have made since last August and make lists of those things we still want to make before the entry deadline.

The Alaska State Fair, held in Palmer, Alaska, is a relatively small affair compared to other state fairs. The entirety of the Alaska State Fair grounds would fit into the livestock area of the Southeast Missouri District Fair that I grew up attending. Still, it's an agricultural fair and a tradition in many American agricultural communities since the early 1800s. To be a part of it, is to step into a bit of history and to be part of keeping the tradition alive. Without exhibits, these fairs become simply another festival with loud music, unhealthy food, and high-priced vendors. Festivals are fun, but they are consumptive events in every sense of the word.

Although agricultural fairs seem to be a uniquely American event, they have their roots in the days of the Roman Empire. In that time, feriae were religious days recognized by the government and celebrated with organized games and festivities. But well before the Romans, people were gathering as communities to celebrate craft and to be thankful for their harvests.

Prior to the arrival of Christianity to northern Europe and the British Isles in the second century, there were two harvest festivals celebrated. The first was Lughnasadh, in early August and half-way between summer solstice and the autumn equinox. Lughnasadh is the celebration of the First Harvest of Grain and the Celtic god, Lugh, who was worshipped throughout northern Europe. Lugh was the lord of craftsmanship and he favored artists, artisans, and craftspeople. People celebrated this day by baking bread from the newly harvested grains and eating the first fruits and vegetables from their fields. When Christianity arrived, Lammas was begun. It turned the pagan celebration into a celebration called "the loaf mass" to bless the first fruits of the harvest including loaves of bread brought to the church for blessing.

It is not hard to see the line between the ancient harvest and craft celebrations of Lughnasadh and Lammas, the Roman feriae, and the American agricultural fairs. They are all celebrations of the harvest and craft within a community of people. I am sure that people living in small towns and rural areas were always up for a bit of competition around the goods they were producing. Who made the best apple or cherry pie? Who raised the best pig? It makes it even better when your competitors are within your community. It creates a shared striving for being and making better. I know that I am inspired every time I visit the exhibit halls at a fair.

When I was young, I showed jellies, sheep, chickens, and rabbits. One year I raised a calf and for several years, I participated in the horse show. I did well in the livestock classes, but the most treasured memory I have is of winning a blue ribbon for my elderberry jelly in the open class of the district fair. By entering the open class of a district fair, I was competing against many adults and not just other kids from my rural county. I was so proud of myself and that jelly. Ignore the fact that I used raspberry kool-aid to help the flavor, but in my defense, that was a common practice of the time.

Preparing to show in the Wool & Woolies class with my ewe, Delilah.

I had not showed anything in a fair for a few decades when last year my son and I entered several items. There were so few entries. The Alaska State Fair is already small and the pandemic seemed to have almost broken the tradition. I was happy to make the effort to bring our entries. Just to be clear - if no one brings entries, there isn't an exhibit. And as I mentioned before, without the exhibits, it's not really a fair anymore.

Besides all that, it's fun. My son did quite well with all his wood-crafted entries. I was particularly happy that one of our honey jars placed and I won a red ribbon for my needle felted entry. Plus, there's nothing quite like seeing something you've made or grown sitting out for display.

Our entries from the 2021 Alaska State Fair.

This year I'm focusing on jams and jellies. I'm not going to say what I'm making in case you are planning to enter. I will say that I'm planning to be creative in my flavors. After the fair, I'll let you know how it went. I may or may not place, but regardless of what happens, there is something tangible and grounding about showing your craft and competing against others in your community who are doing the same thing. It's an American tradition that's gone on for a couple of hundred years and a nod to our ancient harvest and craft traditions. If you do it, I guarantee you'll be happy you did regardless of whether or not you receive a ribbon.

For those in Alaska, there is no fee to enter, but there is prize money for first, second, and third places, plus bragging rights, of course!

I'll see you at the fair.