I just realized that we are a mere two weeks away from Thanksgiving here in the U.S., and only six weeks from Christmas!
Good grief, where does the time go??
I had meant to share my annual recap of the state fair by now, but with all the book festivals and events taking place this fall, it somehow got completely past me. (It apparently got completely past me last year – because I somehow never even posted about it in 2024) So I’m making sure I take care of that now!
As you may know, I’ve worked at the local state fair as the PA announcer for the past 15 years. If you need to know where the bathrooms are or the time of the next cattle pull, I’m your guy.
And as has been tradition here at the ol’ Triple R, I try to share some of my experiences, insights, and surprises. In previous posts I’ve written about water-powered jet packs, the benefits of chainmail socks, and why environmentalists hate truck pulls. This year was no less enlightening:
1.) Never judge a book by its cover. On one of the first days, I glimpsed a fellow walk past me covered in tattoos and leather. Scruffy beard. Wallet on a chain. If you saw him, you’d assume biker dude. And maybe he was. But his Taylor Swift concert T-shirt really threw me.
2.) Giant pumpkins are always one of the biggest draws. Even in a year adversely affected by an exceptionally dry summer, resulting in smaller-than-usual gourds, folks still can’t wait to see what the local farmers accomplished.
3.) It’s extremely satisfying watching a hot shot get taken down a notch. At the beginning of the demolition derbies, drivers come out onto the track and park along a concrete wall, so that all the particpants are in a line prior to the start. One night, a driver decided to show everyone how cool he was by zooming in as fast as he could, careening through the dirt and mud, nearly losing control, and eventually stalling in the middle of the track. Tried and tried and tried to start it; nothing. Laughter ensued.
Finally, he got it going and drove toward the concrete wall – and hit it so hard he stalled again. More laughter.
And when the countdown ended and all the cars pulled out of their spots to begin the derby…he stayed there. Parked. Unable to move because his vehicle refused to start. His team, not laughing. I wonder if he’ll do that again.
4.) After the first candy apple was invented, it would be another 50 years before someone came up with the caramel apple:
5.) It’s interesting how some couples look like they belong together, while others are shockingly different. Many of the couples I saw were very obviously couples: if the woman looked like she had just finished a fashion shoot for Glamour, the guy would often look like he’d just stepped out of GQ.
However, there were exceptions. One couple that caught my attention appeared to be polar opposites: she was giving off Allure vibes, sporting full makeup and a tight dress, while he was more of a Field & Stream, camo jeans kind of dude. To each his own, right?
6.) Garden tractor racing is a thing. Officially known as lawn mower racing, this sport is not only a ‘thing’ – it’s an organized thing, with associations all across the country. And it’s more exciting than you might expect; depending on the class, these guys can get up to 60 miles per hour!
7.) I’m faster than a speeding locomotive. Ok, well, “speeding” might be a bit of an exaggeration. (“Locomotive” is probably a stretch, too)
The Northeast Kingdom Express offered train rides to and from opposite gates at the fair, and as I was walking to the administration office it approached me – and I left it in the dust. I’m just that fast.
Next up: I’ll attempt to outrun a bullet and then leap a tall building in a single bound. Wish me luck.
8.) The fair a great place to find humor where you least suspect.
I couldn’t help but wonder what this word ending in “ious” used to be. It couldn’t have been “delicious” – othewise, why cover it up? Some of my guesses included “suspicious,” “tedious,” “nefarious,” “insidious,” and “amphibious.” My favorite? “Impervious.” Try inserting your own and see what you think!
I hope you enjoyed this little retrospective! For today’s poem, I’m dusting off a little fair food poem I posted about 4 years ago while – coincidentally – working at the fair!
“…then again, maybe I should go back for some pizza”
I love the fair, but most of all, the food is hard to beat –
it’s barely 2pm, and yet I’ve had so much to eat!
I started with a burger, had a corn dog and some fries,
and then hot buttered popcorn in a box of massive size.
I feasted on the fried dough, ate a funnel cake or three,
and downed as many deep-fried foods as there could ever be.
Of course I needed ice cream, so I stopped to have a scoop;
I even scarfed a giant, cheesy bread bowl full of soup!
Ate cotton candy, caramel apples, schnitzel on a stick.
I polished off a pulled pork sub entirely too quick.
I’ve eaten all the sausage my poor stomach will allow;
so really, all I want –
is just a garden salad now…
– © 2011, Matt Forrest Esenwine
Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is being hosted by Carol Labuzzetta at her blog The Apples in My Orchard!
Speaking of fall fairs and festivals…
If you’re in the New England area, I hope you’ll join me and 60 other children’s authors and illustrators at the 2nd annual Newton (MA) Children’s Book Festival this Sun.! This free event is a wonderful opportunity to purchase books for all the young people on your holiday list.
Going to NCTE 2025??
I’ll be participating in a panel presentation with Georgia Heard, Allan Wolf, and Poetry Friday friend Carol Varsalona on Sat., Nov. 22 from 1:15pm – 2:30pm in Room 705!
FREE YOUR STUDENTS (AND YOURSELF) WITH FREE VERSE:
How does one “dream boldly?” By creating stories and poetry that are authentic and unique! Often when we think of reading/teaching poetry, we think of the classic poetic devices: rhyme, meter, syllables. Remove those elements, however, and students are free to write whatever they want, however they want. We’ll reveal the freedom that comes from free verse!
Also on Sat., I’ll be signing copies of A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025) at Eerdmans’ booth #931 at 11:30am and at the Classroom Library Company booth #1016 at 3:30pm!
(If we’ve not yet connected on Instagram, please find me! I’d love to keep in touch. From new releases to blog posts to poetry and more, Instagram is a great way to learn more about your interests, and to connect with the folks who interest you.)
~~ I am booking school visits for 2025-26! ~~
I love chatting with students about creativity, poetry, the writing process, dinsoaurs, and lots of other things! So if you think you might be interested in having me visit your school – either in-person or virtually – check out all the presentations I offer below, then email me at Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com!
I love chatting with elementary and middle school classes about writing: why poetry is fun to read and write, the importance of revision, and how imagination and creativity can lead to fantastic careers! My presentations are tailored to fit the needs of the classes and students’ ages. One day I might be sharing details of how a picture book like Flashlight Night (Astra Young Readers, 2017) was created; the next, I’ll be discussing dinosaur breath or crafting origami sea turtles!
Student presentations include:
- The Making of a Picture Book
- How a Child Saved a Book
- “Once Upon Another Time”
- The Most Important Thing about Writing Poetry
- “I Am Today”
- “A Beginner’s Guide to Being Human”
- “Everybody Counts: Counting to 10 in Twelve Languages”
- The Making of a Picture Book
- The Most Important Thing about Writing Poetry
- Free Yourself with Free Verse
- Tight Language, Loose Narratives: Crafting a Non-Traditional Picture Book
- The Journey of a Children’s Author
Learn more at MattForrest.com!
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Order PERSONALLY-SIGNED copies of my books
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I’m also on BOOKSHOP:
And I’m very happy to be part of the BOOKROO family, too!
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Ordering personalized signed copies online? Oh, yes, you can!
You can purchase personally-signed copies of Flashlight Night, (Astra Young Readers, 2017), Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books, 2018), and nearly EVERY book or anthology I’ve been part of!
Click here to view all my books and to order!
Just click the cover of whichever book you want and send a comment to the good folks at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH requesting my signature and to whom I should make it out. (alternatively, you can log onto my website and do the same thing) They’ll contact me, I’ll stop by and sign it, and then they’ll ship it! (Plus, you’ll be supporting your local bookseller – and won’t that make you feel good?)
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Yes, the title of the poem is a bit odd, but so is the person who wrote it. Actually, there’s a reason why I titled it this way…you’ll understand once you get to the end of the poem. (the title is actually the REAL last line of the poem!)
Earlier this year, I was pleased to announce that one of the first children’s books I had the pleasure of contributing to had just hit stores. 
Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme 