The Little Things: Fond memories of the Coweta County Fair

This column was originally published on Sept. 7, 2021.

By KELLY PRESTON, Special to The Paper

The smells, sounds and sights!

The food, families and fun!

There’s nothing quite like a good ol’ county fair!

I have many fond memories of little things that have taken place at the Coweta County Fair since moving here in 2005.  

Our first child had just turned one, so we loaded him up for a night on the town and to say he loved the fair would be an understatement.  Petting the animals, tasting the treats, dancing to the music, and seeing all the lights were fun for him.  

Riding the rides, however, was the icing on the cake.  He loved the spinning round-n-round of the carousel, but it was the fast and hilly kiddie coaster that brought the biggest smile to our young son’s face.  As a first-time mom, I admit that I was nervous to let him ride it, but I’m so glad that I did because now I have great memories and to this day, he loves any and all roller coasters.

Fast forward several years and while walking around the fair, I got stopped by another couple with children in tow.  The mom asked me about the RACE for the Orphans shirt that I was wearing at the time, so I told her about the ministry of the annual 5K that supports adopting families.  At that very moment, she and her husband, who own a local business, decided to become a sponsor of the RACE.  How cool is that?!?!  

But it was the fair of 2012 that brings me my dearest memories.  I had just flown in from Ohio after my mom died from a very rare form of cancer.  And if I’m being honest, the last thing I wanted to do was be around a lot of people after the saddest time in my life.  But you know what?  Watching my children’s eyes light up at all the sights and hearing their laughter on all the rides was just what my soul needed.  I shed some happy tears that night, thankful that my mom was healed and whole in heaven AND thankful that I was surrounded by my family and community to celebrate the gift of life at the fair.

These are just a few of my memories from the fair.  And I hope one day my four children will have special memories of the fair, also.  

Little things … little memories … can make a big impact.  I hope you choose to embrace them!

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Kelly Preston is a nurse-turned-stay-at-home-mom to four amazing and energetic children. Though she sometimes forgets to buy toilet paper amidst their busy schedules, Kelly finds time to run RACE for the Orphans, a non-profit focused on supporting adoptive families. She loves Jesus, people, a really good book, and pondering the little things.