
JEFFERSON, Iowa, July 12, 2021 — When our Greene County Iowa Historical Society members Jerry Roberts and Chuck Offenburger, both retired journalists, began another of their “History Chats” at the Greene County Fair here in Jefferson last Friday, they posed a question that no one in the audience could answer. The discussion was about “The Arts in Greene County — Past, Present & maybe Future,” and the question: “Has anybody ever written a poem about the Greene County Fair?”
We were all stumped.
But Saturday morning, Roberts, who is also a poet, walked into the historical building at the fairgrounds and said, “We now have a poem about the Greene County Fair — I just wrote one this morning.” And here it is:
THE GREENE COUNTY FAIR
July 10, 2021
All Greene County roads will take you there.
Its free, the tour and fair, just thought I’d mention.
Heifers, calves and lots of steers.
Search team is a 4H crew.
The critter escaped down the local bike trail.
They’re in, they’re judged, and then they’re gone.
That Suffolk ewe is a pet called Rosey.
Walk, trot, stop. Now it’s time to canter.
The moment of truth, this week, is near.
Gardening, handicrafts, carpentry.
It’s called “How Iowa Feeds the Nation.”
A ribbon means you did things right.
There’s a place where they all are featured,
An instant, friendly, petting zoo.
The Historical Society building is a “don’t miss.”
And a real log cabin inside, want more?
Our fathers farmed the fields and hayed.
With Chuck and Jerry’s “History Chats.”
–Jerry Roberts, Jefferson IA
You can write the poet by email at robertsradioguy@netins.net.