DARKOW DRAWS

Doubling Down

PUTTING A FOCUS ON HEALTH CARE.

As Columbia celebrates her bicentennial this month, it seems appropriate to reflect on the many things that make our city such a wonderful place to live, work and have fun. Just as important, it’s a great time to think about the traditions and customs that make Columbia unique from other communities. No other city in America has a Booches, Shakespeare’s Pizza or Mugs Up Drive In. No other city can boast of the oldest Homecoming in the nation nor can it lay claim to being the home of the oldest fair west of the Mississippi River.

In many ways, I think the timing of the return of the Boone County Fair to Columbia during the celebration of our city’s 200th anniversary is more than coincidental. It’s a symbol of the resilience of our citizens and our commitment to the time-honored traditions that give us our sense of identity. From the divisions in our community during the Civil War to the burning of Academic Hall in 1892, we live in a town that knows how to bounce back from the brink of disaster. It’s worth noting that your county fair has also demonstrated a similar resilience in recent years.

When asked to describe our hometown, many of us fall back on the standard description of the midwestern college town with the amenities and offerings of a much larger city. We may also brag about our charming downtown business district, great restaurants and countless recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, we too often skip over our city’s agricultural heritage and the farm families who contributed to not only our economic vitality, but also the exceptional quality of life which comes from the fruits of living off the land.

While we love our local farmers markets, we need to be reminded that Columbia and Boone County were the birthplace of significant agricultural businesses such as Shelter Insurance, MFA, Inc and MFA Oil that are still thriving today. Columbia has also been the home of groundbreaking agricultural research that has dramatically changed the industry. Few people know that research done right here in Columbia once saved the wine industries — both in California and France — from the spread of Phylloxera. The next time you enjoy a glass of Burgundy with your steak, you should pay homage to Columbia’s agricultural roots.

One of the few ways our city honors its agricultural heritage is the Boone County Fair. Started in 1835, this fair has a timehonored tradition of putting the spotlight on where our food actually comes from. For a few days each summer, Boone Countians are able to get a close look at the families in our county who still produce livestock and contribute to our food supply. For many of our children, it might be the first time they come within a few inches of a live cow, pig, goat, sheep or chicken. To add to their amazement, they discover that someone their own age may have played a key role in raising that animal.

Perhaps it’s the focus on local youth that is the best part of the Boone County Fair. While most of our kids compete in soccer, baseball and other sports, there’s a small group of kids who spend their free time taking care of animals that, if they’re lucky, might be shown at the county fair. Some of these kids will pay for their college education by auctioning their animals at the annual fair’s Friday night Livestock Auction. All year long, more than 500 kids in Boone County participate in local 4-H clubs while more than another 500 kids are members of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters at their high schools. The fair is the one time of year these kids get the attention and accolades so often given to student athletes.

Of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the culinary exploits that are part and parcel of the annual county fair. Whether you’re a fan of funnel cakes, corn dogs or a slice of Boone County country-cured ham, you won’t go hungry at the fair.

Happy Birthday, Columbia! Here’s to another 200 years of prosperity, good fortune and being one of the best places to live in America. Join us at the fair, July 20-24, at the Boone County Fairgrounds and help us celebrate this important aspect of our community’s history.

BY FRED PARRY

Fred Parry Founder & Publisher Emeritus fred@insidecolumbia.net