Fern Michonski / Fern’s Music
Pre-School Music Education Expert: The Children’s Advocate for Love and Kindness, Inspiring Creativity and Joy.
August 22, 2012—The Cummington Fair! 
Everyone knows the new school year is right around the corner. Summer is winding down. For me, the ultimate ending to a fabulous summer and the indicator that school is about to begin, is the local country fair. As a child, I absolutely loved the fair. It was the event my entire family looked forward to all summer long. Having grown up in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the best little country fair around, in my opinion, was and is the Cummington Fair, nestled in the small town of Cummington, MA.
It is an agricultural fair, loaded with agricultural exhibits, as well as exhibits of sewing, knitting, flower arranging, baking, Grange exhibits and many others, just to name a few. Folks from all the neighboring towns bring their best creations to show off. Of course visiting the Exhibit Halls is just the beginning of a fabulous day at the fair. The animals found everywhere add to the fun. There are chickens on display, bunnies, roosters, ducks, horses, oxen, sheep and cows. All of the animals are available to watch and touch. The rides are going, the shows are playing and the food is incredible! Each year I find myself standing in the midway thinking to myself, “Mmm, which food should I sample first?” Believe me, it is one tough decision. The sights, scents and sounds circling throughout the fairgrounds tantalize the senses. There just isn’t a better way to culminate the summer.
Every year as I was growing up my family would enter homemade pies, cakes, jellies and jams, hoping to win a blue ribbon. In fact, few people know that I had my own cow as a child. I will never forget when I won 6th place while showing my Brown Swiss Cow, Lori, and earned myself a beautiful pink ribbon. Believe me, I was delighted I had won 6th place because the ribbon was pink. In my opinion, that was definitely better than the blue ribbon! My Mom was in charge of running the main exhibit hall at the fair for many, many years. This meant that my entire family would find themselves up at the fairgrounds preparing the building and getting ready for the big event for days ahead of time. Those memories will remain with me forever.
My Mom passed away 3 years ago. One of her 3 final wishes was to make one last visit to the Cummington Fair. She made it and getting her there was nothing short of a miracle. She enjoyed a delicious homemade turkey dinner, put on by the fair society, and got to visit with all of her many beloved friends who always attend the fair.
This weekend is the big event! The Cummington Fair will open its’ doors on the evening of August 23rd, the evening of August 24th, and then all day on August 25th & 26th. I am looking forward to my visit. It will be difficult not seeing my Mom greeting people as they enter the main exhibit hall. However, I will have a smile on my face and memories in my heart when I see the plaque hanging on the wall with my Mom’s name and her years of service written there. Thanks for the memories Mom and thanks to everyone who volunteers their time to put on the best, little country fair around. The Cummington Fair will always signal the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year to me.