The experience is different for each fairgoer, and a random sampling of Gridley and Biggs residents were asked for their favorite fair memories. Photo by Seti Long

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Butte County Fair has been the pinnacle of a Gridley resident’s summer for as long as it has been held in the community, historically culminating three months off school with a four- to five-day stretch of fun before returning to classes.

The experience is different for each fairgoer, and a random sampling of Gridley and Biggs residents were asked for their favorite fair memories.

“I remember getting to spend the day with my friends and seeing everyone we hadn’t seen all summer. Eating cotton candy and corn dogs was such a treat. Of course, we all were wearing our new school clothes. I felt so grown up. Now I would say seeing the fair through my grandchildren’s eyes is the best.” - Cindy Mayberry, 63, Gridley.

“My favorite memory from the fair growing up has always been the variety of animals. There used to be a large variety of cows and horses, especially the draft horses and dairy cows. My dad was a regular participant in the destruction derby in the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, so I have great memories of the weeks prior to the fair and late nights at the shop while he and his friends were building his cars ... and great derby nights from my earliest memories through my teenage years.” - Lindsey Walters, 40, Biggs.

“My family moved to Gridley in 1989. I have many first memories of the Butte County Fair. I remember there being a big waterwheel over by the stage, and a helicopter would fly over and drop Ping-Pong balls with numbers on them. You could win prizes. I remember digging in the sand for money, and of course, the Hot Wheels races. I was also a contestant in the Miss Butte County pageant as a youth and teen.” - Crystal Dewsnup, 45, Gridley.

“One year they gave away a Shetland pony. You bought a ticket, I think for $1 or something, and she (Grandmother Baker) won it. She didn’t have any place to put it, but do you know Cleo and Melvin Richards? Well ... that’s how they got into Shetland ponies. They showed them everywhere, they won all kinds of awards with them, all because of grandma. Grandma is the luckiest person I’ve ever seen, and I got some of it. ... When I was in high school, my freshman year, I had football practice, so we couldn’t go to the fair until we got off football practice ... and we’d sneak in usually. It was a lot of fun. ... The livestock auction wasn’t quite as big as it is now, like when I was in high school, FFA - there were a lot of kids in it, but very few showed animals or anything like that. Now it’s a big deal. All three of my granddaughters have been involved in it. ...” - Larry Hamman, 76, Gridley.