The Vernon County Fair will be holding its 155th annual fair this year. The fair is the last fair of the season in our area and as far as I can remember it has rained on more years than the sun has shined. For me the fair started out as a exciting fun packed thrill seeking Saturday afternoon event riding rides, playing games and looking at the livestock barns. Two years later at the age of 6 I was enrolled in 4-H club and was showing at my first fair show. Each year until I graduated from High School the fair was a seasonal celebration and ritual for my family. I have to admit that I loved going to the fair and showing my horse in the halter class, however it also took much hard work and effort and I was so busy with studies and extra-curricular activities that fair time always snuck up on me and two days before show time I was quickly grooming my horse and practicing for the show, however this was the ritual that my family came to accept. The fair starts Wednesday at noon and runs through Sunday until 4:00p.m. Since I would show my horse, ducks, cat, goat and field crops I found myself living at the fair grounds and would stay over night most nights. My dad and I would sample all the food stands and ride the rides together and then look through the livestock barns when we were not attending to my own animals. I have gone to the fair every year since I have moved away from home. The only difference is that now fourteen years later since I have shown at the fair, I gear up myself, and my own daughter for the fair season. I make sure that I save plenty of money so that we can fully enjoy each and every ride there is, we can sample just about all the food stands and take home many souvenirs from the fair game stands. My daughter (age seven) asked me last year when she would be able to join 4-H club so that she can experience the fair showing experience. We don't leave home with out my dad as he as well has been the fair ritual for many years and will be for many years to come since next year when he retires will again settle back into the fair ritual since my daughter joined 4-H this year and will be showing next year.
Abstract Megan's Law is named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka, a girl who was raped and killed by a known child molester who had moved across the street from the family without their knowledge. Currently all 50 states have either a law enacted or are proposing Megan's Law which requires the regis...
