FREE FOR ALL

County fair remains fabric of our lives

Walking into the Centennial Building (formerly Kitchens of America Building) the other day at the Oklahoma County Free Fair was like going back in time — cliches and all.

Vintage premises. Old-fashioned goodness. Friendly competition.

Gardens' best on paper plates, and arts and crafts, festooned with blue, red and white award ribbons.

Andy and Opie have surely been here. Aunt Bee. Where are Clara Johnson's pickles?

The air itself seemed seasoned with decades of dirt, sweat, creative juices — and the faint echoes of neighborly braggin' rights. Free to enter. Free to attend.

I needed it.

Generations have stepped up for the simple, time-honored objectives of the fair:

“The Oklahoma County Free Fair continues to stress quality in the areas of agriculture and related youth and adult activities. It gives all who enter exhibits an opportunity to compare efforts with those of others in the county, the intent being that success in exhibiting will stimulate exhibitors to greater efforts, while providing an opportunity to learn from others who have higher ranked exhibits. It is the purpose of the Fair Board to make the Free Fair educational and to encourage cooperation among all persons in the various communities of the county.” It's social.

Not media — not that there's anything wrong with that.

Sometimes when the country seems to be spinning out of control, it's things like this that quietly, reliably, held hold us together.

The best part of any fair is the food. Enjoy these photos of winning produce from the Oklahoma County Free Fair.

ABOVE: Blue ribbon entry in the Miscellaneous Vegetables (okra, green) category at the Oklahoma County Free Fair. Winner's name not provided.

BELOW LEFT: First-place winner in the Fruit (pears, other variety) category at the Oklahoma County Free Fair. Winner's name unavailable.

LEFT: Havasu peppers grown by Tara Noah, of Oklahoma City, were the first-place entry in the Miscellaneous Vegetables (peppers, hot, other varieties) category at the Oklahoma County Free Fair.

[NATE BILLINGS PHOTOS / THE OKLAHOMAN] ABOVE: First-place winner in the Miscellaneous Vegetables (tomatoes, large) category at the Oklahoma County Free Fair. Winner's name unavailable.

[NATE BILLINGS PHOTOS/ THE OKLAHOMAN] RIGHT: Caroline Robertson, of Warr Acres, had the first-place entry in the Vegetables (potatoes, red) category at the Oklahoma County Free Fair.

LEFT: Joseph Riggins, of Oklahoma City, had the first-place entry in the Vegetables (sweet potatoes, red gold) category at the Oklahoma County Free Fair.