From the Fields: Fun, Fantastic Fair Season!

Written by Lisa Higgins, State Bank of Cross Plains

Last month we heard from Craig Rogan of Nicolet National Bank on celebrating June dairy month. This month, we are knee deep into fair season. Most of us have a connection to our county fairs, whether we were involved in 4-H or take our families to enjoy the animals, projects, entertainment, rides, games and let’s not forget the fair food!

This time of year, we are lucky to have the opportunity to get out from behind our desks to support our Ag Community at our county fairs. I’m not sure about you, but it seems like I spend more time on fair grounds during the summer than at the office or on farm calls. One of my favorite things to do is to walk through the barns and see the kids resting with their animals, cleaning up, or sitting in a circle on lawn chairs or coolers and shooting the breeze or playing cards with each other. Showing up and making a day of it is an easy way to support the hard work that the kids put into their animals and projects (and the parents behind them) to make sure they succeed.

Another way to enjoy the fair is by bidding and buying at the meat animal sales. Even though it is highly competitive, when it comes to being there for one another, there is nothing like it. Neighbors bid on neighbor’s animals and local businesses come to see what they can buy. At State Bank, we do the best to spread the wealth, so we are represented at each fair-bidding on customers and prospects and the friendly competition between banks-it is for a great cause! It is an electric atmosphere and sometimes highly emotional.

Once the fair is over, we go through and share the thank you cards that we receive from the kids that we bought from with the full bank staff. They are a sweet reminder of how much we impact our youth.

I am thankful that we can support and enjoy our community in such a fun way. I hope each of you has a chance to visit your county fair this year!

 

Lisa Higgins is vice president, ag and commercial lender with State Bank of Cross Plains in Janesville, and also serves on the WBA Agricultural Bankers Section Board.