"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, WHOO HOO, what a ride!"
Saralee Marin McClelland Kunde 1948 -2014
Happy 75th Birthday to Petaluma's Sonoma Marin Fair. I couldn't possibly find better words to toast the occasion than this gem of a motto, gleaned from Sonoma County's late, great ag leader, Russian River grapegrower Saralee, daughter of South County dairy farmers, champion of the county's wine and food for almost 30 years. Saralee passed away aged 66 in January of this year and was celebrated for her vast contributions to the region's ag history, philanthropy and education within a richly detailed historical exhibit that was curated for the fair's anniversary by county historian Katherine Rinehart, Annee Booker Knight and numerous contributors.
The striking gouche and oil painting pictured above and featured in the extensive exhibit was painted by one Hugo Zacchini, first human cannonball in carnival history. Despite his daring acrobatic talents (he didn't actually perform in Petaluma, though must have visited), Zacchini also was the holder of not just one but two engineering degrees as well as a masters in art.
His painting was admired in the Beverly C. Wilson Hall from Wednesday, June 18th to June 22nd, amidst an extensive array of fair memorabilia, trophies, photos, posters, newspaper stories, clothing and artifacts, dating back to our hometown fair's early days, starting in 1939.
The Sonoma Marin 4th District Ag Fair sponsored its own downtown parade during the 1950s and 60s - a highlight of the summer season, as were Chuck Wagon breakfasts and beauty pageants. At first glance, the good old days of the fair seem a far cry from stalls of plastic inflatable aliens and ponchos, but look beyond the garish attractions of today and the spirit of this community's ag heritage is alive and well and proudly tending to its prize calves, pigs, goats and chickens in the freshly scrubbed, flower bedecked 4H stalls beyond.
One great Sonoma Marin tradition still standing strong, Clo's ice cream booth at the back of the fair, where smiling servers scoop and serve thousands of free cones each day.
I am doing me best to live up to Saralee's advice. I would only add a glass or two of Maker's Mark :-)
Posted by: Frankpetaluma.wordpress.com | Monday, June 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I thought of you, Frank and your penchant for a good piece of chocolate with red wine! Maker's Mark tops it off!
Posted by: frances rivetti | Monday, June 23, 2025 at 10:57 AM