We leave after breakfast for the Marion County Fair held in Salem, a short 20-minute drive. Also the site of the state fair in August, the fairgrounds have ample parking and light traffic. We don't have to stand in line to get our tickets and start in Columbia Hall, where the commercial, fine arts, home crafts and city exhibits are located.The number of entries astounds us --- only one table setting, one home-baked pie, a few jars of jam, no vegetables or fruits in competition. I ask one exhibiter the population of Marion County. Its about 350,000, about the size of Bakersfield. No wonder the fair is smaller than the Kern County Fair. Another couple tells us that a lot of people save their entries for the state fair in just a month.
At any rate, we still enjoy seeing the exhibits. The animals and their 4H owners are always fun. We chat with a woman who is spinning wool from the alpacas behind her. Little children squeal in the petting zoo, but their voices are almost drowned
out by the piglet, goose, and goats. There are even dogs racing over hurdles to grab a tennis ball in one of the grass areas. Everyone seems to be having as good a time as we are.We sample barbecued pork and a homemade sausage, Italian ice, roasted nuts, and a local beer. I finally find replacements for my neck cooler that finally gave out in the Caribbean.
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