The Santa Cruz County Fair is almost upon us. How time flies! Opening day is Tuesday, Sept. 9, and it runs through Sunday, Sept. 14.

For years, families throughout the county and beyond have prepared feverishly the first two weeks of September, grooming their livestock and finishing projects for the largest, most wholesome event in the valley and in the county. Parents, leaders and junior leaders work endless hours with the kids, putting the booths together, entering their projects, feeding and grooming their livestock just right.

It is our youth who benefit the most from parents’ and community leaders’ long hours of preparation for the fair. For many, the fair is the end result of months and, yes, for some, years — especially those involved in livestock — of work and sacrifice to prepare their show stock and breeding stock for the fair.

When you are raising livestock — whether it is a dog, cat, rabbits, pigs, chickens, a bull or a horse — you learn responsibility at an early age. If you are fortunate enough to live on a farm or ranch, those responsibilities are built and bred into you at an early age. Animals cannot be left unattended — they must be fed and watered daily; injuries and sicknesses must be addressed immediately. TVs are shut off until the chores are done; early-morning duties need to be completed before school; summer vacation is put on hold as the fair approaches.

For many of us growing up in the Pajaro Valley, there was never time for the luxury of body surfing — or even a day of swimming — on the nearby beaches. Only those who did not have the responsibility of a job, or herding cattle, disking the fields, cutting the broccoli, hauling the hay, or cleaning out the barn found time to go to the beaches. How times have changed!

There are a tremendous number of events and exhibits at the fair for youth to enter. The members of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Future Farmers of America, 4-H and other youth organizations have to balance homework with the responsibilities of the fair.

Yes, there are still values being instilled in our children, apart from the “political correctness” of our faltering society. One of the things I learned years ago while raising what turned out to be the grand champion steer for the Santa Cruz County Fair, was that if you work in the manure long enough, pretty soon you won’t recognize it for what it really is; you will just think it is good smelling dirt, that is, until you track it across your mother’s freshly mopped kitchen floor. It took the wise voice of my father to straighten out this prideful Wildcatz senior. Only after I got down on my hands and knees with soap and water did I once again realize what I had tracked across the kitchen floor….and it wasn’t mud.

The grand finale for many at the fair is the Junior Livestock Auction, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. The young folks of the county bring the poultry, rabbits, goats, pigs, lambs and steers that they have so faithfully raised under the guidance of their parents and livestock leaders, to be auctioned off.

The efforts of the 4-H and FFA members and independents are justly rewarded. Last year, more than 150 members of the community and companies participated in the auction, providing financial support to the hard-working and dedicated youth of our county.

You have the opportunity to do the same! You may bid (which is a lot of fun) on an animal and have the meat processed at Corralitos Market or Freedom Meat Locker. Or, if you don’t need the meat, the Auction Buyers Committee will resell the livestock at market rate and you simply pay the difference. If you can’t be there, contact the Junior Livestock committee at 761-974l, or via email at livestock@santa

cruzcountyfair.com. The committee will bid at your stipulated price. Credit cards are accepted.

Y’all come out to the fair this year and enjoy the greatest family event of the year! The county fair is the only place around where the youngest 4-H age children (9- and 10-year-olds) can safely walk together with their peers. Come and join the folks at the Junior Livestock auction on Sunday. The smell of fresh hay is great, and the fun is even better! It will be a growing experience for you as well.

“Back then,” my grand champion steer proudly sold for 49 cents a pound. But times have changed. Bring your wallet and good will, ya hear! Let the good times grow!

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Watsonville native George Betz, a real estate broker specializing in farm properties, is a contributing columnist. These views are solely those of Mr. Betz and not necessarily those of the Register-Pajaronian.

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(Published in 9/1/08 edition)

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