Readers share their fair memories

Building excitement
Pat Vagonis of Potomac remembers the anticipating the fair's opening day.

Almost 40 years ago, I remember that the summers seemed sooo longgg waiting for the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair to open.

My favorite activity was the games. I loved to throw coins on bright glass dishes that were spaced strategically on pedestals just far enough apart for a challenge (they gave good bounce).

However, I had much more success throwing ping pong balls into glass fish bowls that actually held fish! We always had fish food around the house, because I always came home with a fish to feed!

The fair has always been a family tradition in my house!

Keeping tradition alive
Laurel Gill of Laytonsville keeps up her family tradition of going to the fair and choosing an animal to raise.

Growing up in Rockville during the late 50's my parents always said, "It wouldn't be fair to have a pet since no one is home all day to play with it." I knew there wouldn't be a dog, or a cat, or even a bunny. But when the last day of the Montgomery County fair arrived I thought there might be a way.

Our family spent nearly every day at the fair because my dad presented ceramic demonstrations in the Arts and Crafts building. I spent each afternoon trying to decide which kind of animal I would have when I grew up. This particular year I spent many hours watching the eggs in the poultry barn incubator. I loved to see a new pip in a shell or the many stages of drying chicks, from skinny and wet to fat and fluffy.

On the last Saturday of the fair, I asked the people in charge if I could raise two of the chicks that I had watched hatch. I never said a word to my parents but my older sister was sure we could talk them into it. We just took two adorable chicks in a cardboard box with a lunch bag of feed up to the ceramics demonstration area! How could they resist?

The chicks grew up to be a beautiful red and black rooster and a plump white hen with black speckles. My mom, a kindergarten teacher, set up the cage at one end of a long dirt trough in her classroom. She grew pole beans on the other end and let the chickens run in the trough during class.

The students charted the number of crows the rooster made and whoever saw the brown egg first each day got to take it home.

When I took my two sons to the fair many years later, it was to help them pick out what kind of animal they would like to raise. They chose dairy goats and joined the Montgomery County 4-H Dairy Goat Club.

It was one of the best decisions we ever made as a family. They took care of their goats every day before and after school and exhibited them at the fair.

They each took a turn as a prince in the fair royalty court. They loved the fair as much as I had and continue as adults to volunteer their time at the fair each year.

I still have goats and show them at the fair. I spend the whole week sharing my hobby with visitors. Each year in the spring our baby goats visit the school where I teach. The children learn about the goat life cycle, their needs and products that come from goats.

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is a wonderful place to start a family tradition. It certainly was for my family.

Generations of memories
Cathie Eaton of Germantown shares her memories, from riding in the stroller to helping her children make their own memories.

My earliest memories of the Montgomery County fair include taking turns with my sister riding in the stroller, rolling along, visiting the animals in their stalls, (the rabbits were our favorites), with our eyes staring in wide wonderment at the lights and noise of the Carnival Fair Way.

We were hustled past the lights and noise because we weren't big enough yet to ride the rides. A few years later, we were allowed to ride the rides, (in spite of my mother's anxiety that the rides would collapse during our ride), and we became entranced by the "games of skill", particularly, throwing coins on glassware to win an item, or rings to win a live goldfish.

Like the song, it was 1970-something, and my sister and I spent the entire summer before the fair in our kitchen, practicing our throws of dimes and nickels and pennies onto our glassware, perfecting our technique, so we could win some fancy glassware. Alas, that game of chance was not offered that year after all that practice!

And all that practice didn't help us win goldfish, either, much to the relief of my parents. I believe all parents dread the day after the fair if a goldfish is won. If it dies the first night home, there is the discussion and reflection on life and death, and fairness. Next is how best to dispose of the fish -- funeral and burial or flush? If the goldfish miraculously survives that first night, then there is the expense of a tank, filter, light, food, and decoration(s) for the tank.

That one goldfish cost how many throws?

Even as teenagers, my sister and I enjoyed the fair, checking out the booths, eating candied apples and cotton candy, and of course, checking out the animals and crafts, although we still groaned to be seen with our parents.

I believe our grandmother may be one of the few people to have attended the previous 59 Fairs. I am not at liberty to disclose her age, but I can tell you she is planning on going again this year, too.

More than 15 years ago, I volunteered to help work at our church's BBQ chicken booth [Trinity United Methodist Church, Germantown]. What an amazing experience!

Entire families worked in the booth, adults cooking and preparing the food, and the children serving orders as runners. The children were so proud to be working "grown up" jobs (we adults remember such tasks less fondly as the fast food follies), and this was before the mandated community service hours required for graduation.

Somehow, cooking over a hot stove, washing dishes and wiping counters at the fair is not as tedious as completing those same chores at home. Even laundry!

There was so much personal and spiritual growth during that first week of working for the church in this venue. I fondly remember the friendships that were born with people I hardly knew from Sunday services and the strengthening of others.

The most memorable transformation of personality I remember was watching Alan Klink, a soft spoken and devout person put on a black and white striped costume, similar to old time jail birds, go out into the crowd, and YELL at the top of his voice "GET YOUR CHICKEN HERE!" after the pig races.

He would act crazy addressing the crowds: "You KNOW we have the best BBQ chicken, look at Montgomery County's Finest (police officers) sitting right here, you KNOW they know where all the good food is!"

This year, the babies that were cared for by a babysitter way back when are now gearing up to join this year's chicken booth. My daughter is entering crafts and a pumpkin in the fair this year, and my son is looking forward to working the fair with his friends.

Finally, I hope the fairgrounds do not move from their ideal location in the center of Montgomery County.

Courtesy of Bunny Galladora
Madge E. Johansen of Jefferson has won hundreds of ribbons for the dolls she has entered in the Montgomery County fair.

A doll of a hobby
Madge E. Johansen of Jefferson reflects on her ribbon-winning hobby.

Many years ago, I started a new hobby – making dolls. A friend came to my home for a visit, saw my dolls and suggested that I enter them in the Montgomery County fair. I don't remember what year that was, but I won a blue ribbon for my entry.

After that, I began making lots of dolls and other items to enter into the fair every year. I have won over 200 ribbons and 16 Grand Champion Ribbons. All of which I proudly display on my family room wall.

I have a special room set aside to display the dolls, stuffed animals and nursery rhyme charters that I have made and entered in the fair over the years. These include the three little pigs and the wolf, the three blind mice and the farmer's wife with the tails, the three little kittens and the mother cat with pie, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Jack and Jill that went up the hill, Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf, the shoemaker and elves, among others.

I can no longer enter items in the fair because a few years ago, the state purchased my home which was located along Route 29 to build a ramp. I moved to Jefferson, so I am no longer eligible to enter items in the Montgomery County fair.

My Doll
Madge E. Johansen

Found a pattern on the shelf,
Decided to make a doll for myself.

Cut each piece and started to sew,
then I stuffed her from head to toe.

Painted the mouth, nose and eyes,
she looked real cute, to my surprise.

Used some yarn for her curly hair,
fashioned it with love and care.

Made her dress of satin and lace,
then a smile came on her face.

Took her to the county fair,
A GRAND CHAMP RIBBON SHE WON THERE.

A royal entrance
Brookeville resident Kristen Head, who was Kristen Smith of Laytonsville in her youth, shares her memories of her first moments as queen of the Montgomery County fair.

In 1990, I was senior in high school. On a whim, I decided to try out for Montgomery County Fair Queen. On that Sunday night, that they were to announce the winner, I was excited but not expecting too much. It was the first time I had tried out and many of the other contestants had been in 4-H since they were 8 years old! I had only joined as a teenager.

Well there I was up on stage, one of the two remaining contestants. One of us would be crowned queen. It was me!

The crown was placed on my head and all of the members of my 4-H Dairy Goat Club stormed out of the bleachers to hug and congratulate me! I was so excited!

As soon as the crowning was over I was expected to ride in one of the vintage convertibles over to the 4-H cake auction. As I climbed into the convertible and hopped up on the back, I fell right into the storage compartment for the hood. It was not one of my most graceful moments as the Montgomery County Fair Queen!

Courtesy of Ralph Buglass
This hooked rug by Marion Buglass won first-place in the 1960 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. Her son, Ralph Buglass has the rug in the family room of his Rockville house.

One crafty mom
Ralph Buglass of Rockville remembers all the ribbons his mother won.

As a kid in the 1950s and '60s, I eagerly awaited the Montgomery County Fair every summer, but not so much for the rides, as most kids did.

Each year, my two older sisters, younger brother and I would head first to the “big buildings“ to see which ribbons my mother had won this time around. In fact, I can’t remember a ribbonless year! Whether for her unbeatable pies and cakes, or her delicious canned goods, my mother’s good work was always recognized.

Mom also had a talent for crafts. She proudly entered her crocheted afghans and hooked rugs. Marion Buglass’ 1960 entry graces my family room today complete with her first-place ribbon that year.

Always fun, year after year

Gaithersburg resident John Small recalls going to the fair with his children over the years.

In 1966, our first time at the fair, my daughter was in junior high and my son was a raw-recruit Cub Scout. Featured at that fair were big machines for planting, tilling and harvesting.

Now, my daughter is a grandmother and my son has morphed into a 50-year-old architect. The biggest machines on display at the fair are riding mowers.

Even so, our fair is still, as always, a people event, with plenty of fun, well-earned pride, fellowship, and good cheer, and an overwhelming supply of country and carny calories, served by friendly folks.

So, we’ll be there, to visit all the animal-world youngsters at [Old] McDonald’s Farm, and stand in line for our bit of the Big Cheese, and seek out the like-no-other peanut butter fudge. Hope to see you.

Courtesy of Dara Gordon Murray
Allie Murray, 13, of Germantown and her grandfather Len Gordon, 83, of Gaithersburg volunteered in the Dairy Barn at last year's Montgomery County Agricultural Fair.

A family tradition
Dara Gordon Murray’s family has been volunteering at the fair for nearly 40 years.

The Gordon Family (and Gaithersburg residents since the early 70's) has volunteered in many aspects at the fair for almost 40 years. As a child, I remember my parents taking me to see the animals, admiring the baked goods and craft work and being entertained by the pig races. My mother has won many ribbons for her baked goods (most recently in ethnic cooking). I have volunteered for Shady Grove Hospital, been on set up and clean up committees and helped out in the arts⁄crafts area.

Last year, my daughter Allie won best in show –Yellow Ribbon for her pottery in honor of a breast cancer survivor. However, the best memory is from last year, was the bonding between my 83 year-old-dad and my daughter Allie working together for the Lion's Club in the blistering heat in the Dairy Barn. My father has volunteered for many years – scooping out ice cream for the Lion's Club – no matter how hot it is outside he has carried the experience and fulfillment he gets from volunteering from generation to generation.

Family adventures
Liz Brigham of Silver Spring recalls years of prize-winning entries and finding some baby rabbits outside the fairgrounds.

The Montgomery County fair as always been a family adventure. My Mom (Louise Kidwell) won many ribbons for her baking, sewing, and arts and crafts. She even won a Purple Rosette for her decorated eggs (they were covered with jewels and some had music boxes inside of them and some had doors that opened and shut - all made from a real egg).

I also won many ribbons with my counted cross stitch towels and pictures. I am 65 now and have enjoyed the many years of going to the fair.

We would always go around lunch time and have lunch at one of the church booths, then off to see the animals, and while my Dad and I enjoyed the animals my Mom would sit at the Bingo stand and she always won something.

Then it was off to the Home Arts Building and the Arts and Crafts Building and end up with dinner at the big dining room.

One year when I was about 10 years old, my Mom and I rode up to the fair with a neighbor and her [two] children. We had to park out in the field (this was before they made parking lots). It was about 95 [degrees] and we parked the car in a tall weeded area and when we went to get out of the car we found a nest of baby rabbits ([three] of them). We pushed them under the car so that the next car would not run over them - and this would keep them out of the sun.

When we came back to the car about 3 p.m. they were still there. Mom was afraid to leave them there – So we [popped] them in the car and took them home. Mom fed them with a baby doll bottle for days. They lived about [five] years. It was great having my very own “farm animals“ from the fair.

Another year we picked the best pears off the tree out back and entered them and won first [prize]. It was a great surprise to know that you don't have to be a regular farmer to win at the fair. Everyone should enter their best made or grown item – it is fun to see if you win and if you don't win to see what the item looked like that was better than yours.

There are many wonderful memories about the fair and I hope they continue having the fair for many more years.

I am going to enter three different quilts this year. I have not enter[ed] anything for several years. It will be fun to see if I get another ribbon. My own grandson who will be 10 this year will go with me to the fair – Another Family Adventure To The Fair.

Growing family, growing fun
Melissa McDonald of Germantown decks out her family in matching shirts as they take on the county fair with flair. See her original submission, complete with photos, here.

As I sit watching my kids swim around our pool (another favorite summer activity) so many happy Montgomery County Agricultural Fair memories float through my mind.

We moved to Maryland in 1995 and have been attending annually since then, so I have lots and lots of memories!

In August 1995, when our eldest child, Alexander, was only 16 months old we made our first trip to MoCo Ag Fair. That first summer, he discovered the corn “sand“ box in Community Square.

As our family grew and his three siblings came along, we made our annual trek to the corn box so that the kids could play in it. They would have played for hours in it – if I had let them!!

One year as they played, I watched and photographed the sand sculptor design an amazing and beautiful sand castle – it was August 2000 and the 52nd year of the fair. The following year one of these pictures won a ribbon in the fair’s photography contest.

Old MacDonald’s [sic] Barn is a standard ‘must see’ for us.....how could it not, with our last name McDonald?

Shannon, my youngest, has always loved animals, especially farm animals, and has always been a monkey girl – climbing anything and everything that she sees as a challenge – and when she was two she nearly climbed in with the big steer with the ‘DO NOT PET’ sign. Thankfully, I caught her just in time before she scrambled over the top of the white fence!!

In 2005, we discovered the Veggie 500 and had a blast making cars out of vegetables and racing them – just for the fun of it.

As you can see from our pictures, our family trademark is wearing matching shirts so that we can easily find each other in the crowds of people that attend the fair. This has been a sanity saver for me!! And certainly a conversation starter, too. Many a friendly stranger has commented on our matching tie-dye shirts.

Alexander, Hunter, Gabriella and I all enter several pieces of artwork and photography each year. Shannon, now 6, will be joining us in this venture this year. In 2005, we all won multiple ribbons...it was a banner year for us. I even won grand champion with my pink water lily. My kids thought is was so great to not only see their artwork with ribbons on them, but to receive the premium checks in the mail a few weeks later. What an exciting year for all of us!!

My kids often get chosen to participate with the performers on stage. Three summers ago, Gabriella got called up on stage and I caught her on film sideways, hair askew, as she was being twirled by the performer.

Last year she played the KIDBUCK$ game...and beat the boys she was competing against...hands down!

Since Alexander was old enough to “man“ the Boy Scout rope bridge he has volunteered there each summer. It is heartwarming to watch him help the younger children, and especially his siblings, bravely cross the great rope bridge – and the look of sheer pride as they complete the challenge... Last year I finally dared to try walking the bridge myself - and didn’t embarrass myself (or my children) by falling off it!

Being a family of Boy and Girl Scouts, volunteering and giving back to the community has always been important to us. We not only help at the Boy Scout rope bridge, but three summers ago I started volunteering in the photography and arts & crafts barn as well.

My kids love the Ferris wheel, and a ride on it at dusk has become an annual tradition for us. Each time we reach the top of the ride my kids look like happy puppies hanging their heads out of the car window – a look of pure joy! We love to watch the sun set and the lights come up through the midway....what a truly beautiful sight it is!

As my kids have gotten older, they want to spend more time at the midway side of the fair, but I still insist that we start our day at the agricultural side, as this is where most of our fondest and favorite fair memories have begun.