By NORLEEN KNOLL

Special to The Hays Daily News

A county fair is as American as apple pie and baseball. It is a place for children raised in town to learn about the agriculture way of life. The fair also is a time for families and friends to gather and update each other on their gardens, harvest and family.

A county fair also includes entertainment and carnivals, car races and demolition derbies, but the most important part of a county fair is for participants to show off their handiwork. This includes exhibits of photographs, ceramics and woodworking and also those beautiful handmade quilts. You also can see the best tomatoes, potatoes and squash grown. And of course, we cannot forget about the beef, sheep, swine and my favorite, the horses.

All of this does not just happen. It takes months of planning and work. Sometimes hard, get-down-and-get-dirty work. We need to recognize and thank all of the people who work hard year round to make the week of the Ellis County Fair happen. Also, recognize and thank all of the superintendents who dedicate their time to be at the fair and take your entries and display them for the community.

We invite everyone to come out to the Ellis County Fair, where town and country meet, and see the exhibits from the 4-Hers, Girl Scouts, Hays Public Library, Hays Recreation Commission and everyone else.

Join us in having a "Wheelin' Squealin' Good Time."

For more information on the Ellis County Fair, visit www. elliscountyfair.com

Norleen Knoll is a board member of the Ellis County Fair Association.