Too Much News

by Michele Boy | July 25, 2024

On Friday, July 28, 1944, one of the Syracuse Journal headlines read , “TOO MUCH NEWS”.
The article said, “We’re sorry, but last minute political advertisements and legal notices that had to be run this issue crowded us for space this week and we had to leave out some of the less important news and the church notes.”
  I laugh because eighty years later I find it comforting that not much has changed in that respect. 
I have budgets, political ads, and legal notices taking up quite a bit of the paper.
 I admit, I am grateful that we have a local newspaper. 
  I am writing this in my pickup outside the barn at the county fairgrounds.  I got an extension of an hour to get the paper to the printer. 
My daughter just finished showing her sheep at the county fair, and I will be honest. For a few minutes I completely forgot about the newspaper.
 While there were only two showmen, it didn’t change the intensity and anxiety for me.
  She was the only intermediate showman going up against herself and I still worried. 
A judge doesn’t have to give a rosette or a banner even if you are the only one out there. 
You have to earn it. 
  I was proud to see the two showmen earn it. 
I was proud to see that while the show this year was smaller, they worked for it.
  In the bible it says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.”
 How are we with that? Are we good stewards with our resources, our giving, our support?
Seeing other 4-Hers who had nothing to do with sheep and goats stopping in to watch their friends made my heart happy
 In the peewee showmanship, there were about a dozen little kids wanting to show the sheep.
  Watching my daughter lead three little girls through the sheep ring made me smile.
 It was just a few years ago when my daughter was the peewee following a senior showman, holding her ears because the sheep were BAAing too loud.
  Seeing these kids teach the littles is magical. Maybe because I am now in the stage where my influence is less and peers are more
So I will get mushy for a minute. To all the workers, parents, grandparents, friends, volunteers who come out to support all of us, thank you! 
 Forgive us as we are all a little tired, a little cranky, a little snippy. Again, we are tired.
But a good tired. 
  There is more fair to go too. So rest will come later. For now we will all build memories together. We will clean the barns, watch the livestock shows, and wander through the buildings to see the judged entries.
Shameless plug - We hope you will come support the youth at the auction Friday evening where they sell their animals and goods. 
  Yes my head is completely wrapped up in the fair right now.
So you will have to put up with me for this week. 
  It’s amazing though how watching your kid do something they work for can remove every other thought. I forgot about work, politics, everything going on in the world just to watch her. 
  Do you have that moment in your life? Is there something that drives you? If not, I hope you find that. 
  I am going to get this paper sent out, grab a bite to eat, and try to catch up on some work that has been neglected, in my office, my home, my life. haha. 
 I am grateful today the triple digit heat has held off till Sunday.  I am grateful for people in my life who guide me. I am grateful for my family. 
  There isn’t a lot of summer left. School will begin soon and my husband pointed out it is only 50 days or so until State Fair. LOL. 
Thanks for reading!
Hope you had a chance to enjoy some of the fair.