Outstanding families take an unexpected vacation

The year was 1963, and John F. Kennedy was president. The nation was grappling with the issue of civil rights. Compact cars, many of them miniature versions of their bigger brothers, were drawing buyers into the showrooms of the Big Three automakers. And at the Canfield Fair, a new tradition was begun, the honoring of outstanding families in Mahoning County.
Much has changed since those days. A couple of months after the fair, the president was assassinated. Foreign automakers redefined the compact car and went on to challenge-- and in one case, consume -- the Big Three. But through wars and peace, good economic times and bad, explosive growth of the suburbs and retraction of the cities, the tradition of picking a farm family and a city family for special recognition at the Canfield Fair continued. Until this year.
For the first time in 40 years, two families will not be selected for special recognition at the fair. No nominees were submitted.
This is not to say, of course, that there are no outstanding families in Mahoning County. There are thousands of them.
Times have changed
But it is a recognition of the changing times. For one thing, life is much more hectic today than it was 40 years ago. Today, both parents are as likely as not to work outside the home, even in rural families. There are far more one-parent families than there were in 1963. And the pace of life is busier for everyone in the family, from pre-school children to senior citizens. Some teenagers have calendars more crowded with commitments today than their parents would have had 40 years ago.
And so, perhaps, it is not surprising that no one took the time this year to submit nominations for the family of a friend, neighbor, relative or fellow parishioner to the Mahoning County Extension Service of The Ohio State University, which has overseen the selection process in past years.
Not surprising, but a shame nonetheless.
We all know outstanding families, but unless at least some of us are willing next year to take the time to share what we know, this tradition will die.
"Sometimes things just run their course," said David Goerig, OSU extension horticulture agent. And that's true enough.
But it is also true that some traditions are worth saving, and recognizing outstanding families is one of those things. Indeed, a good argument could be made that it is more important to do so today than it was in 1963.
Let's hope that next year word goes out that the Canfield Fair is looking for a couple of outstanding families to honor and there is a flood of nominations.
If you have a family in mind, start making notes now.