Some folks get a little more scared on rides than their friends during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Since July 1854 people have been coming to the Marion County Fair. Ribbons have been won and lost. Cakes, pies, rabbits, and quilts have been carefully judged and ranked.
The tendency is to stay in the animal barns, but the Fair is more than livestock: there are prizewinning onions and dahlias and cheesecakes as well as the winning lambs and cattle.
The midway always has that siren call — just one more toss and that giant stuffed animal can be yours. Riding the giant swing as the sun is going down and the wind blows on your face after a hot day. The crunchiness of a candy apple and the greasy reward of an elephant ear.
Who hasn’t enjoyed the delicious huge ice cream cones from the Red Barn stand that the Oregon Dairy Women run?
A lot of things may have changed in 169 years, but the pull of the Fair will always be the same.
Junior 4-Her’s get a little practical advice on showing their rabbits from a judge at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Owen Eaton admires a tractor on the “show floor” during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. Eaton said he has a similar one at home and likes it. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Contestants try for the big prize midway during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) The Alaskan racing pigs are always a crowd favorite during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) One more toss for a chance at the bigger stuffed animal during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Many generations of fairgoers have enjoyed the legendary ice cream from the Oregon Dairy Women’s red barn during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A bonus is getting your ice cream served to you by the Marion County Dairy Princess Ambassador during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Orval Miller holds up Ali the American alligator for a portrait during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. Ali is about 35 years old. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Orbiter ride on the midway at night during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Kids gather around to pet the albino ball python at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Nothing beats eating an elephant ear with a friend during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Aaron Watson points out at the crowd during the show at the Marion County Fair held at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A ride on the giant swing with a friend at sunset is just the thing during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A fiddler shows his skill during Aaron Watson show at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
The giant swing is the thing during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Some rides you have to literally get strapped into during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Zipper beckons the crowd at night during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Orbiter ride on the midway at night during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Ariah Dixon and a friend enjoy riding on The Orbiter at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Adriel Arriaga sits inside a military vehicle at the U.S. Army National Guard booth during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. Arriaga enlisted at 17, attended basic training, then finished high school in a program called a “split option”. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
An entertainer at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)An impromptu meeting was underway during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Cherry City Cloggers take to the stage at during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Biff the Belgian Malinois shows how he apprehends a suspect with his handler Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Ricky Kittelson at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Junior 4-H participants get a little practical advice on showing their rabbits from a judge at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 8, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Kole Jones looks at Jasper his llama at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. Jasper has a special talent: he can back up with no issues. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Josephine Henny holds Charm the Mini Rex rabbit for fairgoers to pet at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. Charm is 6 months old. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Another junior 4-H exhibitor passes on useful showmanship tips to a friend before the rabbit show at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Maclara Mulkey and her Hampton-Suffolk cross sheep Sophie have a moment at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. Sophie is about 2 years old. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A judge assesses sheep during a livestock contest at the Marion County Fair (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A domestic turkey having a glad moment that Thanksgiving is very far away at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A 4H contestant has a down moment with his Boer goat during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
The Alaskan racing pigs are always a crowd favorite during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Pirates and their parrots were also to be found at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The City Dance Theatre livens up the stage during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The City Dance Theatre livens up the stage during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A bevy of princesses delights everyone during the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Solber Martinez, a local author of two published books, reads his favorite book at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. Martinez plans to write another book after finishing college. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)These beautiful blueberry muffins got third place at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Flyball was fully in action with many clubs competing at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. Flyball is a dog sport in which relay teams of dogs race against each other over a line of hurdles, to a box that releases a tennis ball to be caught when the dog presses the spring-loaded pad, then back to their handlers while carrying the ball. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Ollin Yolitzly Aztec Dancers drew a large crowd at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Ollin Yolitzly Aztec Dancers drew a large crowd at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The audience enjoying the dancing in the shade at the Marion County Fair at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on July 9, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
