Reading Skills for Today's Adults

In 2003, one beautiful August day, my family and I went to the Minnesota State Fair. There were large crowds of people and many cars near the fairgrounds. We parked about eight blocks away and walked to the entrance gate to pay our admission.

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We saw many amusement rides and many food stands. The fair’s food specialty is anything on a stick: fish on a stick, banana on stick, cheese cake on a stick, etc. There were over forty kinds of food on a stick at the fair. There was also live music and lots of exhibits.  

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My family and I were most interested in the farm animals. I grew up in a large city that I often refer to as “the concrete jungle.” There was not much green space and very few animals. I only saw high-rises, streets, and sidewalks. So the farm animals were a real joy to watch.

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The animals were all arranged by stalls. There were horse stalls, cattle stalls, dairy cow stalls, sheep stalls, rabbit stalls, pig stalls, etc. The cow stall intrigued me. It was there that I saw a young girl sleeping with her cows. She was lying on a bed of hay. 

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This scene gave me a unique sensation. I had a feeling of true peace. As I was thinking about the word “peace,” an ancient Hebrew saying came to my mind: “…the calf and the lion and yearling together, and a little child will lead them.” 

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My visit to the Minnesota State Fair gave me a new understanding of the state, of its resources, agriculture, and animals. I also gained a new insight about peace and what it looks like to me.