Great Jones County Fair, here I come

     This week is the 2018 Great Jones County Fair, also known as the Five Best Days of Summer. I’ve been going to the fair since I was a little girl and I don’t plan to stop attending anytime soon.

     Each year I go to the fair, I always find a way to make it a unique experience. From showing my animals to attending the concerts, the fair never fails to give me a week of memories I’ll never forget.

     When I was younger, the fair was always seven days long for me. I competed in the 4-H shows, showing horses and rabbits and entering in the F.A.S.T. Exhibits. Even when it was 100 degrees outside I would put on jeans and a cowgirl hat with a smile on my face.

     The food has always been my favorite part of the fair. What other time of the year do you get a chance to eat cotton candy, a funnel cake, ice cream, and a burger each day for five days straight? However, if I had to choose one thing to have at the fair, it would be the iconic strawberry smoothies. You just can’t beat the amazing taste of a cold and fresh tasting smoothie at the fair.

     Towards the end of the week, I always look forward to going to the concerts with my friends or family. When I heard Thomas Rhett was coming to the 2017 GJCF, I think I cried tears of happiness for at least an hour after the announcement. He’s one of my favorite performers, to say the least. I love watching the performances from the track and hearing everyone sing the songs word for word together.

     Having GJCF in my hometown gives me a sense of pride for the place I grew up in. I love seeing and meeting people from all over the state and those who came out of state just to come to GJCF.

     There was a moment at a concert I overheard someone who wasn’t from around here said, “I don’t know where we are but there’s so many people here.”

     This year I’m looking forward to getting a new perspective of the fair as an intern with the Express. Each day, I’ll be going to events around the fair, taking pictures and getting an all-around look at everything going on.

     The GJCF will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope to attend for many years to come and I can’t wait to see what this year’s fair brings!