Mary Schmidt Marketing Troubleshooter

Yesterday I did something downright old-fashioned - I went to the New Mexico State Fair. I find it incredibly touching and encouraging that - in today’s crazy, facebookin’, iPodin’ “anything goes” world - there are still 4H Clubs, Future Farmers and Future Homemakers, exhibiting everything from cookies to leather-working to sewing. And, kids of all ages still enjoy the hokey “thrills and chills” of rides and attractions that haven’t changed in design or content in decades.

I’ve been meaning to go to the fair since I moved here seven years ago - and have never quite made it. What got me off my duff this year was a friend entered the pie-baking contest (as she has for years - how retro is that?) So, another friend and I played hooky and went to cheer her on. There were 66 pies on the contest - and not all were works of art. (Several were having “meringue issues” due to the damp weather.) . But they were certainly works of soul. All the bakers are doing something they love and doing their best. It was a joy to be there - and the crowd was standing room only.

My friend took home two blue ribbons. Her partner also got a blue. Four pies, three ribbons total - pretty good day! And we got to eat the pies after (waddle, waddle.)

So, this weekend I’m breaking out the rolling pin and my Mom’s splattered, stained recipe book. The result probably won’t be pretty - but it’ll be tasty.

There are some rather obvious life and marketing points in all this but I’ll leave it to you to take it from here…I gotta go buy a new can of Crisco.