As a kid I remember the annual Chenango County Fair with mystery, enthusiasm and daring. The rides were far more intimidating and new, my adolescent stomach could process even the most sugar-packed or fried food with glee and I never knew what I might find, from a lion tamer to a trapeze artist; there was always an exciting touch of the circus to be found at the carnival.

It was a fabulous place filled with strange people, captivating entertainment and fresh experiences.

Then, like most, the majesty and intrigue of the fair faded quickly in my more adult years as the experiences became repetitive and the trappings less appealing – a lasting view shared by many Chenango natives, I fear.

This year I spent far more time at the fairgrounds than I think I have ever before, more than 30 hours plus altogether, taking hundreds of photographs, conducting dozens of interviews and mingling with countless volunteers, patrons and venders.

I must admit that it may be one of the best fair experiences I can recall.

The part of the fair that impressed me is occasionally cast beneath the midway’s alluring noise and aromas, the agricultural accomplishments and joys.

Thursday morning while meandering around the empty fairgrounds waiting for the tractor pulling competition to heat up, I traveled to the livestock barns to see if I couldn’t find a opportune photograph or two.

I saw that a number of children were out in the pens, feeding chickens, watering ducks and taking care of the animals’ daily needs. A pair of girls, no older than 10, recognized my camera and asked if I was from the paper. They then led me to the stalls and, with their mothers looking on, they brought out their favorite goats and asked me to take their picture.

As I found my way through the barn, I had a number of people approach me to request a picture and several others caught in my lens made me wait until they could find a relative or select a specific animal before snapping the shot.

A grandfather and his grandson next to the family’s Holstein, a daughter and her father sheering sheep – there are few people I’ve seen more proud of what they do and so willing to share it with the world. Whole families are tied together by the farmer’s way of life.

After finding myself with more pictures than page space in the newspaper, I was horrified at the thought of not being able to fit everyone in, an earnest concern rarely roused by a media photographer.