(From the Zephyr archives) What We Found, Searching for ‘The Way Life Should Be’…by Tonya Morton

An excerpt:

“This was the week of the County Fair—big news in our tiny town of under a thousand people. People arrived at the high school, braving heat of over a hundred degrees, to compare bushels of wheat, cut flowers, artwork and various fruits and vegetables. And the rest of us wandered through the aisles of displayed work, commenting on a particularly fine cucumber or a surprisingly large squash. Nearly all the children’s entries bore a 4-H mark, meaning these were kids who spent their extra time working with cattle or horses, learning to grow crops, and generally preparing for a life of hard work on their parents’ ranches. The adult entries—quilts, plants, artwork—were each meticulously created, bearing testament to the care and attention required of ranch life. The lady selling baked goods, most for less than a dollar apiece, asked how Jim and I were faring in the heat. “It’s a wonder people still manage to come out in such a summer,” she said, handing me my change. A neighbor waved hello from the corner and, walking over, asked Jim whether we’d be attending the animal exhibits the next day…”

To read more of Tonya’s story, click the image below:

http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2011/07/28/what-we-found-searching-for-the-way-life-should-be/