The day the veggies rebelled...
“If you survive Entry Day without hot glue in your hair, you’re officially a fair veteran.”
The Calm Before the Glitter
It’s the day before the fair.
The doors creak open at 8 a.m., and within minutes, the Home & Garden building transforms into what can only be described as a beautiful disaster.
Minivans pull up like a convoy of caffeine-fueled chaos.
Moms with arms full of baking, kids trailing Lego projects that have already lost three pieces in the parking lot.
Someone’s carrying a turnip that could win a medal or start a fight; it’s hard to tell.
The air smells like glue guns, garden soil, and pure adrenaline.
Nobody’s read the prize book.
Someone has created an entirely new category called “Abstract Muffins” because they “felt inspired.”
And yet… in the middle of it all, there’s laughter.
Chaos, yes, but with heart.
Here’s Why the Madness Works
Here’s the secret: the chaos only looks random from the outside.
Behind it are volunteers who move like a well-trained pit crew.
Entry tags flying. Forms sorted. Tables rearranged.
Cages going up with the precision of a covert operation.
By sunset, the madness has shape.
By morning, it has ribbons.
The truth is, organization doesn’t kill the magic, it protects it.
Systems aren’t about control. They’re about giving the chaos a place to land.
The Shift You Can Feel
Because when the judges step in, clipboards ready, quiet and serious, something changes in the air.
All those projects that arrived with glitter, dirt, and arguments about categories…
Now sit in perfect rows, each one a small story of pride.
And when the doors open to the public, it hits you:
This is what legacy looks like.
Generations walking through the aisles, pointing to their family name on an entry tag.
Grandparents telling stories of when they won first for a pie back in ’78.
Kids searching for that one ribbon that proves their Lego creation was, in fact, the best barn in town.
When the Dust Settles
By the end of the weekend, the chaos is forgotten.
The ribbons hang.
The cages come down.
And the pride lingers in the air like fair dust.
That’s the thing about systems, they don’t erase the madness.
They give it shape, purpose, and just enough structure to let the magic shine through.
Because when the community shows up, messy, late, and full of heart, it’s not just entries they’re bringing.
It’s proof that our legacy is still alive.
Let's Get to Work
Kryssie ❦
3 Ways to Work with Fair Systems That Work ↓
👉 Fair Audits
It’s not just about your board. Audits look at your whole fair, from directors to conveners, volunteers to systems. You’ll get a clear snapshot of what’s working, what’s not, and where the biggest gaps are, so you know exactly what needs to change.
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👉 Fair Audit Survival Guide - Free eBook
Inside the Fair Audit Survival Guide, you’ll find the Audit Worksheet, your step-by-step tool to see what’s working and what’s fragile.
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👉 Legacy Survey
Your voice matters.
No two fairs are the same, and that’s the point. By sharing your wins and struggles, you’re helping build resources that support every fair across the country. Let’s shape the future together.
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