“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”          

-Theodore Roosevelt

As I get older, seasons seem to come and go more quickly. Summer is fleeting and always ends quicker than expected.

This summer has been an unusual one, yet I have tried to keep a positive outlook and be a joy giver.

The end of August is usually synonymous with the Minnesota State Fair. This year, not so much. The lack of county fairs and annual “Minnesota Get Together” has certainly been disappointing.

The appearance of food trucks in the area offering corn dogs, cheese curds, fresh squeezed lemonade and a plethora of other fair food, have helped soften the blow. Yet, somehow it is not the same as enjoying the 4-H exhibits and walking through the countless buildings at the state fair.

There is something magical about eating cheese curds and pronto pups while smelling the aroma of the livestock barns that takes the culinary experience to another level.

The passage of time during the pandemic has been odd. It is soon the middle of  September.   

I see local farmers  out harvesting in their fields. Colder temperatures have arrived.

Despite the absence of the Minnesota State Fair this summer, a Becker family chose to take matters into their own hands and did not let the pandemic
wreak havoc with their annual tradition.

The Dosh family decided to put their own spin on things and orchestrated their own “Minnesota Fair” in their backyard. In the place of traditional props
for their annual western photo shoot, such as rifles and money bags, the family opted to use more fitting pandemic props that proved to be challenging to find (toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach, wipes and masks).

Julie shared: “Our children and grandchildren are thrilled to keep our tradition going any way they can. Every year, our children and grandchildren meet us at the Minnesota State Fair on opening day and we spend the day together and eat lots of food and drink lots of lemonade. We just enjoy spending time together. The highlight of our day at the state fair every year is getting our western picture taken. We were so sad this year when the fair was cancelled. We decided one of the things we enjoy most about our fair day is the fact that we are together”.

The family even made their favorite state fair foods, including cheese curds, Sweet Martha’s cookies, cotton candy and corn on the cob.

The family says they had a lot of fun planning and executing the western  photo shoot even though we were not actually at the state fair grounds.

Family time has been especially precious in 2020. Summer is a wonderful time for camping, fishing, bonfires and outdoor activities of all sorts.

Businesses that cater to outdoor activities have been extremely busy according to local business owners I have talked to.

On a postitive note, many people have been spending more time outside. From hiking to camping, people are spending more quality time with their family and friends and also reaping the benefits of the great outdoors.

Record numbers of people have planted gardens and are enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables in large quantitities. I have tried unsuccesfully to purchase canning jars, lids and rings. It appears there is a serious shortage of canning supplies!

People in my circle have also been planting more flowers to brighten up dreary days.

Paul Eid, Briggs Lake Nursery owner, had this to say about this season: “People have been staying home more and they are sprucing up their homes since they are spending so much more time at home. We have had many first time gardeners purchasing items from the nursery this year and I have also been extremely busy with landscaping projects.  I’ve been in business in Palmer for 22 years and this is the best year I’ve ever had.”

Personally, I make a point to shop local whenever I can and support our local businesses.

I also love to purchase locally grown produce, canned goods and honey at the local farmers markets in the area.

Becker Farmers Market is held every Friday from 3 to 6pm in Becker Furniture World parking lot every Friday through Oct. 9.

Big Lake Farmers Market is held every Wedneday at Lakeside Park in Big Lake through September from 3-6 p.m.

It is my prayer that local businesses are able to remain profitable despite the negative impacts of the pandemic.

In the meantime, I am making it a goal to spread some joy, despite the challenging times. Please join me!