• The 4-H exhibit is about the growth of the child, not the growth of the parent’s ego.
  
• No one owes us a Fair.  Read and abide by the rules.  If you missed a deadline, or missed getting an entry on the entry form, then that is a lesson learned, not a cause for a tantrum.
  
• Treat each other well.  Treat others with respect, especially when they don’t seem to deserve it.
  
• Enjoy the heat and the mud and the tension and the excitement and the fatigue and the chance to work with your neighbors on an event that is important to us all.
  
• Don’t take yourself too seriously.
• Remember that your children and your neighbor’s children learn to deal with anger and disappointment and accomplishment from you.  At all times, be mindful of the lessons you are teaching them (and you ARE teaching them even when you’d rather they weren’t watching.)
  
• We each take part in the County Fair for our own, personal reasons.  Your reasons for being there are NOT the same reasons that anyone else is there—nor should everyone else be there for your reasons.
  
• The Fair t’ain’t always fair.  Everyone wishes it could be, but no one has figured out how to get that done.  When things happen that “aren’t fair”, make notes, chalk it up to experience, and work to make changes for another year.  Public crucifixion of intentional or unintentional wrong-doers diminishes us all.
  
• If you will settle only for blue ribbons and nothing less, please contact the Extension Office or the Fair office in advance.  We’ll mail you as many blue ribbons as you like and save you a trip to the Fair.
  
• The Fair is, after all, a celebration!  A chance to stop and enjoy our accomplishments and the accomplishments of others.  Celebrate!  Congratulate!  Applaud often! 

 I look forward to seeing each of you at the Fair!