Now I haven't been to the Montgomery County Fair since I was about eight years old, perhaps nine. My last memory of the Montgomery County Fair was of having my wallet stolen. My father had given me his old wallet, a black alligator-skinned wallet. And in it I put what I remember as $80, but could easily have been only $20. I remember that all the money and allowance I had saved from my chores was in that wallet, and there might be something worth purchasing at the fair. I remember that I had buttoned my back pocket, it's a nervous habit I still perform in "fair" situations today.

I took my wallet out at one point, probably showing off my money. My mother no doubt told me to put that away, my father questioning why my mother let me bring that to the fair. And sometime shortly thereafter, my wallet mysteriously disappeared, the $80 with it. I didn't even get the chance to buy my mom a funnel cake.



Fast-forward 18 years and a whole lifetime of experiences later as Justin Schuck returns to the Montgomery County Fair. This time I've come not for the funnel cakes, attractions and rides, which now seem much smaller than the ones I remember from my childhood. I'm traveling again with the Scott Rolle campaign on a trip through the fair, and to the two Democratic and Republican parties' tents.

The weather was spectacular, and the delicious smell of food I can't eat gave the air a healthy weight. I particularly enjoyed the smell of Dave's BBQ Catering. Oh my goodness. As the sign reads, no sauce required. As someone with strong southern roots (I say I'm half-Arkansan, half-BBQ), I was able to appreciate the artistry and mastering that goes into proper open-pit BBQ. It's all about indirect heating, not grilling. You damn Yankees never get it. And a real BBQ enthusiast NEVER puts the sauce on the meat before it's cooked.



I think Scott appreciated their skill and conversation as well. For me, it is interesting to watch a candidate interact with so many people. On previous campaigns that I have worked with, and especially on campaigns where I was volunteering, I've not had the same level of access to the candidate. I think it's more than healthy to see candidates of all parties and stripes hitting the pavement. It's a sign of a healthy democracy.



Of all the stops along the paths of the MoCo fair, my favorite would have to be catching Scott throwing a football into the target set up at the US Army recruiting tent -- or should I say US Army Reserve Captain Scott Rolle. I had to scramble to try and get the shot, because I had already broken down my camera. The deep dark of the night was fast approaching, and I was carrying with me minimal equipment. Capturing the shot was made harder because Scott was so eager to throw the ball. I got one shot of him throwing the football, and needless to say, it went in. It's just another one of those candid moments that capture a candidate in a moment of triumph.



While it might not have been 110 degrees Fahrenheit, it was quite warm, and the still air did nothing to ease the discomfort. And I say, try walking around a hot, stinky county fair with heavy equipment strapped to your shoulders! I think the woman above had the right idea.