I didn’t grow up in Southwest Florida, so I don’t have childhood fair photos of myself covered in dirt or holding a ribbon from a goat I helped raise. But somehow, the Southwest Florida Ag Expo still feels like a tradition I look forward to every single year. It’s one of those things that officially makes the year feel complete for me.
For me, going to the fair has turned into a routine. I go with Marija, we walk through the gates, and without saying a word we both already know where we’re headed first. Not the rides. Not the games. Cheese curds. Always cheese curds. That is stop number one. You don’t browse first. And you don’t “loop back.” You eat the cheese curds immediately and build your day around that decision.
Once that mission is accomplished, we usually head toward the animals — and this is where Marija really shines. She will spend way too much time talking to them. And when I say talking, I mean full-on, one-sided conversations. She’s asking goats how their day is going. Or she’s complimenting cows like they picked out their outfits themselves. She’s emotionally connecting with pigs that have absolutely no idea what’s happening. Meanwhile, I’m standing there holding snacks, waiting patiently, watching her bond with animals who are just hoping someone drops food…