Working the fair, from concession stands to midway games

In his time traveling with the Lowery Carnival Inc. this summer, Dawie Jordaan, a South Africa native, has worked at fairs in more than 20 U.S. cities, but he said the SEMO District Fair has been his favorite.

"The people are really different, friendlier," said Jordaan, who takes tickets at the giant slide on the midway.

For those who work at the fair selling food, operating rides and running carnival games, meeting different people every day is part of what makes their job fun.

"You meet different walks of people every day," Peggy Colp said.

Colp was selling fair fare such as foot-long corn dogs, Philly cheesesteaks and bacon ranch fries at her concession stand Sunday.

Werner Henrich, 21, of South Africa runs the cork gallery midway game Sunday for the Lowery Carnival Inc. at the SEMO Distrcit Fair. (Laura Simon)

For 20 years, Colp has traveled with her family business, Ms. Peggy's concessions, to fairs and festivals as far as 800 miles away. During the eight-day SEMO District Fair, Colp's business has 12 concessions stands set up, most of them run by her relatives. Ms. Peggy's got its start when her brother purchased a funnel cake trailer 20 years ago at a fair, Colp said.

Colp -- who lives in Herrin, Ill., when she's not traveling -- said her April to October season is shorter than most, and her schedule allows her to go home and rest for several weeks between fairs. When on the road, she prefers to travel with her camper, her "home on wheels," and frequently uses it to prepare home-cooked meals.

Though Colp admitted a weakness for the bacon ranch fries she sells, she said fair food day after day does get old.

"Sometimes we'll throw a pot roast in the crockpot so it's ready when we're done working," she said.

Colp said coming back to the SEMO District Fair every year is nice because its more "laid back" than many of the fairs they visit and because she has a lot of friends and family in Southeast Missouri.

"It's not too busy here, not like New York. It's nice," said Werner Henrich, 21, of South Africa.

Henrich, who runs the cork gallery game on the midway, said working at a traveling carnival has given him the opportunity to see the rides and crowds "through different eyes."

Living out of a trailer and finding places to do laundry and buy food has been challenging, he said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635