Friday, February 8, Florida State Fair

After a 4 km. walk around the park, we decided to go to the Florida State Fair, which opened yesterday. It is sunny and 20C (68F).

   We arrived at the Fairgrounds at 10:30. Admission is $10.00 each. www.floridastatefair.com

We started out at the Expo Hall which contained the commercial exhibits (vendors), then we covered the Cattle Ranching Museum and the Steam Engines.









Next was the "Cracker Country", where there were exhibits of activities of the day. 

Cracker Country is a rural Florida living history museum located on the Florida State Fairgrounds. The museum recreates 1890s rural Florida. Its collection of 13 original buildings dating back from 1870-1912 were relocated from across the state of Florida beginning in 1978 when Cracker Country was established by Mildred W. & Doyle E. Carlton, Jr. Today, the historically furnished buildings recreate the lifestyles of the past, and costumed interpreters portray daily living as Florida pioneers and share the stories of early Floridians' experiences.

Florida's pioneers came to this state with only the customs and traditions of their past homes and the dream of a new beginning in Florida. The daily life of these early Florida settlers was very different from the present. The family unit had to work together to prosper in this time of simpler means. Each family member played a distinct role.

The Mother

The mother made sure the household ran smoothly. She was responsible for the daily household chores and other daily necessities. A Florida pioneer mother didn't have the time to be bored. Her typical day included activities such as cooking for her family, preserving fruit and vegetables, making soap and candles, and sewing clothing for her husband and her children. It was the mother's job to spin yarn, weave cloth, take care of the vegetable garden, and tend to the chickens. If necessary, the mother would even take on the role of teacher to her children. She was also responsible for passing down folk rhymes, stories and songs to them.

The Father

When the family first settled, it was the father's job to clear the land and build the home. After the home was built, the father's job of providing for and protecting his family was endless. Typical chores of the father consisted of plowing and planting the farmland and hunting and fishing for food.
The father spent much of his time performing the essential outdoor chores and teaching his sons the skills required to care for a family in early rural Florida. Skills such as loading a gun, using an axe, saw or knife, and caring for livestock, was all necessary for survival.

Children

Florida's pioneer children did not have as much free time as children today. They would often spend their days performing chores around the home in aid of their mothers and fathers. Boys would spend time with their fathers learning how to hunt, fish and trap wild animals. Girls would spend time with their mothers learning how to cook, sew and clean. During the day, the older children would also attend school.
When the children did have free time, they would spend it swimming and playing. Girls would often play with their dolls or pretend to be in school. Boys would often get together and play games. The weekends brought many joys to children. Often on Saturdays, the family would hitch a horse to the wagon and head into town for the day. On Sundays, the family would go to church, and the children would get to play with other children their same age.

There was a demonstration of squeezing juice from sugar cane using one "horsepower". The horse would go around and around providing power to compress the cane and squeeze out the juice which would be boiled down to make syrup.

This man was working a foot-powered lath as he created a wooden spindle. I would think you would develop a very strong right leg!








We also covered the Agribusiness and Equestrian exhibits, which included the Goat & sheep tent, Old farm machinery and prize-winning cattle barn among other displays.

There was even a Sand Sculpture demonstration. This guy was creating a sailing ship.

Trying to find our way out, we had to go through the midway! It looked like I remember the Toronto Ex Midway many years ago! Rides, food vendors, games of chance.


By 2:00, we packed it in for the day. It was quite warm& sunny 23C (73.4F), so headed back to the park.