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Keeping It Real At The Florida State Fair

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

There are lots of reasons to love the Florida State Fair, which opened Thursday for a 12-day run.

Sure, you can get a corn og at the mall. Or you can hop on a carnival ride at any old amusement park. And heaven knows crafting has made a comeback and can be found at any weekend art fair.

But where else can you get all that and still see chicks hatching and cows giving birth?

This community is lucky; for all its citified ways, Hillsborough's country heritage isn't far away. There is something wonderfully genuine about seeing young people proudly showing the calves, hogs, lambs and other livestock at the fair.

It's easy to think today's kids are all about video games and computers - but each of the children showing an animal at the fair has invested huge amounts of time, muscle and love into these beasts.

To see the kids' dedication can't help but restore faith in the next generation.

And who among us can fail to appreciate the art of a beautifully baked pie or a carefully constructed cross-stitch sampler?

Who knew there were even people who did that anymore? Thank goodness there are.

Keeping with the tradition of something old and something new, the Florida State Fair is going green this year. It now will use only biodiesel products and will promote the use of alternative fuels. The focus on renewable energy sources is a reminder that Florida can never sever itself from its agricultural roots.

Yesterday's farms may very well be our future - or at the very least a good day's entertainment at the fair.

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