Jewells of Thought

There have been a handful or less years where our family has not gone annually to the Great Fair. It has always been a staple for the Alsman Family since before I was born. There was just no question we were going to the Fair each year.

Of course, most of us also were in local Chapters of 4-H. I think pretty much all 8 of us Alsman grandkids did something or multiple tasks. I remember doing crafts, photography and cake decorating. My cousins two girls and one boy took and showed pigs. My brother did woodworking too. Some of us had items that went all the way to the State Fair and of course we had to go up and see the item up at the Capital in the Fairgrounds.

Grandpa Freddy always made it into a family fun experience and we always went as a family including the family caravan. Goodness… he’s been gone for nearly 20 years next February it all mostly stopped after his death. Of course all of us grandkids were growing up and in college moving on with our lives and some were in different states by then. Still those memories are priceless.

This year on our way up to the fairgrounds I was struck by the large American Flags I talked about yesterday. It was a moment of pride to see them even as high in the sky as they were. Those on I-70 and 65 could see those flags and knew some American, and Hoosier I might add, had those hoisted high for a reason.

Last year a new building debuted. It was a much hotter day for us then. This year we arrived and there was a breeze and it was cloudy. We knew it was cooler and everyone around us was saying so too. It was a perfect beginning for a day of walking around. This year for a change we were actually able to find a spot on the tractor for a ride to the other side of the Midway. The rides were free they seem to go back and forth with it being free or twenty-five cents to fifty cents. So we were happy, Dad was happy we found a spot and didn’t have to walk as far as we normally do since we haven’t been trying to take tractor rides as much due to the cost for however many of us there may be.

We ate at the pork tent before the tractor ride and then our first stop was that newer building, the Swine Building donated and supported by Farm Bureau Insurance. Last year they started having the Taste of Indiana hosted in this new wonderfully air conditioned building for the pigs, literally. Here are photos of it and on the bottom right are some of the goodies they served. Last year they had like double the vendors, but we didn’t get things in this little box to go like this one. All produced my Indiana vendors.

On our way back from the other side of the Midway heading towards the MacReynolds building I heard something over the intercom. It reminded me of the article I read a couple weeks ago. Something about Spicy Pickle Pizza. I still did not see anything about the Peanut Butter and Jelly Boneless Chicken Bites, but in the area where the rides where I heard them say don’t forget to try some Pickle Pizza. I didn’t hear where it was though. To be honest I didn’t need any more snacks!

Grandpa wouldn’t recognize some of the fair sights he used to love. One being the Dairy Barn. It was a simple shack compared to this circular barn now. Their shakes were nearly 5 times the mini blizzards I usually eat at the nearest Dairy Queen. At noontime though that chocolate shake felt and tasted amazing.

One place that hasn’t changed as much as the Old Pioneer Section. They have added on an Opry building, but Grandpa would still know and remember the tools, tractors and animals they still use to show demonstrations.

Somehow we ended up eating at the same restaurant we always used to with Grandpa and Grandma. We finished the day at Grays Brothers in Mooresville. Something else was planned and it went up in the air so we defaulted back to the family favorite. The memories that are held in those rooms. No matter how much time has passed they instantly come to my memory with the smells of the food and the decor that hasn’t changed.

My childhood is filled with wonderful memories because of the people God put in my life. It has been such a blessing to see how much my grandparents and their influence shaped my life. Simply because they were in my life as much as they were and loved us all so much they continued to keep us together with amazing family trips!