A Fair People

The state of Kentucky is like a giant family. Dysfunctional as all hell, armed to the teeth, and a little too fond of their bourbon but a family nonetheless. Each year in August, when the sun is the hottest, we have our annual family reunion, otherwise known as the Kentucky State Fair.

Urban is Urban and Rural is Rural and never the twain shall meet. Well, except at the fair. And sportsball. Grew up in a rather rural area myself, but have spent most of my adult life in the city so it's always entertaining to watch the two cultures meet and mingle.

Could have sworn there was some sort of symmetry here when I snapped this shot but I still can't figure out what.

Welcome to Guntucky! Think that was how they phrased it in 2020 when they were explaining to the out of town press at the square not to be alarmed if they saw firearms. Only seems fair that we have some at the state fair too.

Do you think they get paid a fair wage? Still wouldn't be enough for the bullshit they have to put up with. They do a free concert series at the fair which always draws a rowdy crowd.

But that's usually not until after the sun and copious amounts of booze have gone down.

Until then it's a rather different crowd.

Some even actually want you to take their picture.

Some are just ready for a showdown at high noon. Those two are 'corrections' officers rather than police but you can't tell it by the way they act. Back in my drinking days I managed to escape from some of their coworkers (and jail) and ever since we've not been on what I would call good terms.

Is it just me or does that guy look like he's ready to escape from this fine family function? There's always plenty of food and it's usually fairly suspect popular.

Ah, nothing says fun quite like pushing a stroller with a couple littles in 90 degree heat.

We've still got a few months before the next get-together, all these are from last year's state fair.

My train of thought has went for a swim so it's probably time I made like a tree and got the fuck out of here.



0
0
0.000
14 comments
avatar

Interesting entertainment, even the whole family visits it.... May the family always be happy 👍

0
0
0.000
avatar

May the family always be happy 👍

Wouldn't that be a dream? We're in no danger of that happening anytime soon but it'd be nice.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Some of those working at cafes and all don’t get paid well but they’ve got no other choice since there’s no other job they can do

0
0
0.000
avatar

Good photos and I loved the explanation in each of them, your perspective on Guntucky seems very curious to me! hahaha do you have a gun too?

0
0
0.000
avatar

Ha, I'm curious as to why it's curious to you? Some context for the name, at the time the Breonna Taylor / Black Lives Matter protests were going on here and many of us protesting were armed because the police definitely weren't going to protect us and there were multiple militias that kept coming into town too.

I do have a few myself, actually learned to shoot firearms before I learned how to shoot cameras.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I'm curious as to why it's curious to you?

because for us here the issue of weapons is something dangerous and violent and you take it in a very joking way that makes you laugh haha

actually learned to shoot firearms before I learned how to shoot cameras.

That's wild!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Ah, I see, wasn't sure which aspect was the curious part :) I sometimes forget how accustomed we are here in the US to weapons and violence. Hive is good at reminding me though. Can't help but suspect that the joking and laughter is a combination of 'familiarity breeds contempt' and gallows humor. Last weekend alone we had seven people killed and five wounded in shootings, one of them at a place I'd been taking photos the day before.

Heh, I got my first firearm, a .22LR bolt action rifle when I was ten, got a 12 gauge shotgun a couple years later. Here there's a big difference in attitudes towards guns between urban and rural areas, is it like that where you live? I grew up in a rather rural area and hunting and target shooting were common, everyday hobbies. Moved to the city for college and was rather surprised to meet people who'd never even held a gun before.

0
0
0.000
avatar

The images are now converted to black and white, so their beauty is greatly enhanced. You have worked very hard to create special images for us.

0
0
0.000