Further and Further - On the Way to The Oregon Country Fair

I knew getting into The Oregon Country Fair was going to be a stretch. A friend of mine who lives in Eugene, seeing my work, said that I should apply. I clicked on the link to the application they posted, dubious. I had lived in Oregon for two years off and on, and Eugene for a summer, working at a hostel; I knew the reputation the fair had as being strict about quality. As I read through the regulations, I grew more and more impressed. I’ve worked for vendors at fairs for over twelve years, and vended myself off-and-on. I know that like a lot of hand-made crafts, my stuff is sometimes a tough to sell for the work I put into it, compared to machine-made competetors. Thus, the fact that they only allow completely hand-made items at the fair (and had a rigorous definitions for what counted as hand-made) impressed me. If I applied, I’d at least be supporting an organization I respected with my $35 application fee.

Two different people have told me that people apply for decades without getting in, so the fact that I got in first try, after applying on a whim, feels extremely surreal. I don’t really want to dwell on whether I’m lucky or good; Rather, I’ve been working my hardest these past few months to make sure I honor the opportunity.

I didn’t know I was working my whole life for this moment, yet here it is. I’m ready.

If you’re gonna be at the fair and want to see me, I’ll be at booth 181, right across from the Community Village! I’ll be vending with a tie-die vendor, and should have my spiffy new rabbit sign out!