“The Lord is my portion; says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”

The Eads Chamber of Commerce breakfasts Thursday and Friday kicked off a great 2023 Kiowa County Fair and activities. President Dennis Pearson and members do thank the volunteers who helped prepare and serve the meals. I saw a middle school student, Calen Hoffman, helping with the breakfast. 

The weather for the fair was sunny and warm. Monday, when it was raining, we counted our blessings that the weather was so wonderful for the fair. Sunday and Wednesday through Saturday there were various kinds of rodeos that brought a lot of competitive athletes to town. Saturday, there were representative horsemen and women, boys, and girls in the annual parade. The Arkansas Valley Queen and her pastel pained-trailer were in the parade. 

The honored Parade Marshal was Alice Glover, who was a 4-H leader for over 40 years. She also cooked many meals for Eads school students and staff. Alice taught many girls and some young men to knit, crochet, and sew. She is a master baker who has worked as a superintendent at the county fair for years, including this year. She is active in our community even now in her mid-80s, in the Weisbrod Hospital Auxiliary, and with Eads senior citizens, of which she has been the president for many years. She is a dear lady who helps others and volunteers and attends as many school and community events as she can.

The other honored Parade Marshalls were the First Responders from the whole county who were mostly in or on the big red fire trucks led by their director, Russ Watson. 

Brother and sister, Braxtyn and Braya Ferris, served as the fair royalty this year. Miss Arkansas Valley led the parade after the horsemen carrying the flags. There were many riders of different ages, and lots of shiny vintage automobiles. There were some businesses and groups also, such as the GN Bank employees, the leadership staff of Weisbrod Hospital, Hoffman’s 911, Prairie Queen 4-H Club, and others that I wish I could have written down - they go by too quickly. One of the best parts of the parade to me is the six cars of Eads High School royalty and to read the names of the couples, two of whom will be the King and Queen during the Eads homecoming festivities September 20-29.

The exhibits in the community building were interesting to see. I always check out the 4-H members’ exhibits, and it was pleasing to see that Kiowa County 4-H members did so well at the Colorado State Fair. I know that is in part because of good parenting and family support. Next, I looked at the young children’s exhibits to see my great nieces and nephew’s artwork. The adult art and photography displays were good. If you didn’t see inside the community building, you would have marveled at the sea of beautiful quilts and crochet works. Then you would grow hungry looking art all those yummy baked goods, and candy, and jars of canned goods that men and women had preserved.

Under the grandstands, there were many good vendor products, and many groups and businesses that I, unfortunately, didn’t have time to study or visit with. However, I did see Marla Guinn Darnell’s beautiful booth of western clothes and accessories. I was amazed to see all the handmade items that Ronnie Phillips displayed. Both Marla and Ronnie were students at Eads High School. Around the corner was the Plainview School booth manned by their senior boy with his teacher sponsor, Ruth Fees. 

Many people enjoy most any fair for the joy of seeing old friends, and my joy last week was to see one of my dear Eads High School student friends, Keri Dewitt, who came to Eads her junior year. Jacob Diel, science educator, and I, as the counselor, had the pleasure to accompany Keri to the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, where she won a science award for a state contest. She told me at the fair, “This was the beginning of my journey.” I have observed her many sad times, but her college graduation, marriage, the birth of two children later in life and, now, moving back to her home state area in Missouri, are far happier times. Keri will never know just how much joy and fun she provided the children of this area by bringing her gigantic dinosaur to Eads, along with all the games, educational experiences, and displays that she and her young children, Grant and Gracie, take to many states. Thank you, also, to Claire Prince for being a helpful volunteer!

There were a lot of cars around the Eads Senior Citizen Center Thursday and Friday, indicating that lots of senior citizens surely enjoyed gathering there to eat the delicious barbecue that the Kiowa County Road and Bridge crew cooked under the earth. Residents at Weisbrod and Prairie Pines enjoyed some fair barbecue also.

The Hospital Auxiliary met at the basement of the hospital as they did years ago. The next meeting will be on the second Tuesday in October at 11:00 a.m. The salad bar was great. We invite new members come join us.

Remember, “There is always hope.”