The 1960's musical about the Texas State Fair always comes to mind this time each summer when our Indiana State Fair opens to thousands of Hoosiers from the rural farms and urban communities across our state. Sure the fair goers enjoy the deep fried pickles and Oreo cookies, elephant ears and funnel cakes and the games on the midway but the Fair's so much more. It's a wonderful opportunity for our rural young people to get the recognition they deserve for carrying on their family's farming tradition, for exploring new crafts and hobbies and preparing themselves for their futures. I watched them today as they tended their livestock and painstakingly washed and curried their animals to prepare them for judging. Their pride was unmistakable. I'm sure they had a few laughs too as they watched the city dogs, lemon shakeups, the "world'd biggest hog" and the midway. It's a wonderful Hoosier tradition.
