It’s county fair week, or at least it is at the time I'm writing this (the first week of August). When I was younger, it was my favorite time of year. It was like Christmas morning – the one where you just can’t wait. You’re excited, jittery with anticipation.
It feels a little different now. More like, “How is it fair time already?!” But it is still just as exciting.
Being the oldest of four kids means my family is still pretty involved with all things at the fair. Among the many arts and crafts, photography, baking and flower projects are, quite literally, trailer loads of livestock – cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.
Cattle was always my favorite project. I miss the days spent in the hot and dusty cattle barn at the fair, chatting with fairgoers. I also miss the anticipation and nerves of show day, spending time with friends I only saw during this time of year, and probably eating one too many corn dogs and chocolate malts. The memories are endless and are some of my favorites when I look back to my childhood.
The fair is a special time of year. It gets young people excited to be involved in agriculture and showcases the next generation of our industry. While the fair is just the finale of the project, the project itself teaches important life skills and develops the exhibitor into a better person.
Now my fairs look a bit different. I volunteer to help check in projects, submit open-class photography and design the barn decorations. You can usually find me cheering my siblings on from the bleachers or wandering around with my camera in hand, trying to capture the magic.
It’ll never be quite the same as it was when I was a junior exhibitor. However, seeing the next group of young people experiencing the same things and making the same memories makes fair time just as exciting.
As the fair comes and goes, my excitement shifts. This is because we are starting a new endeavor at Progressive Publishing, one I hope you’re excited about too. Coming in 2025 is our first-ever issue of Progressive Cattle – Canada. This publication will be similar to the well-loved Progressive Cattle but for our Canadian audience.
It will contain cattle heath and management, feed and nutrition, reproduction and genetics, grazing and many topics all geared towards the cattle industry in Canada. It will also feature unique Canadian beef cattle operations and be filled to the brim with valuable information to support everyone’s operation.
We are excited to get to know the Canadian cattle industry, attend industry events and conferences, network with companies and meet with producers. Be sure to check out the sample issue released this month leading to our regular launch in January 2025.
Our goal is to be a trusted resource and valued partner in Canada’s cattle industry just as we are in the U.S. We hope you enjoy it just as much as we do!
