General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What do Dems need to do to win the rural vote [View all]BumRushDaShow
(128,710 posts)Every Presidential primary season, the same lame gaggle of reporters go following Republican clown car candidates around to those fairs while they nosh on corn dogs and apple fritters. I think the biggest one was that Iowa State Fair that was always their launching point due to Iowa's early slot in the primaries. I don't recall Democrats being followed around at State Fairs often, if at all.
We don't have a "State Fair" here in PA nor any "fair grounds", but we DO have the annual "Pennsylvania Farm Show", which is held some time in January (the upcoming one 1/7 - 1/14/23) at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in the state capital of Harrisburg. The state broadcasts many of the events on the state cable channel. I know actually driving out there and attending that in person, has been on one of my BIL's bucket list (he is an avid watcher of the show every year).
They have arenas for stuff like tractor pulls, lassoing calves, and space to display livestock and poultry for competition, and feature the state's 4H Club members (who are youth), as well as food prep, crafting activities, and many competitions (e.g., "sheep to shawl" that I always watched where a team would shear sheep, collect the wool, card the wool, spin the wool (sometimes dye the wool or have earlier-dyed wool available), and then set up looms to weave it to make some beautiful article at the end).
Here are a whole pile of "voters" -
I know over here in the eastern side of the state, there is the annual Kutztown Folk Festival over the summer. I hadn't been since I was a kid until I got chance to go again about 8 years ago and it was great to see Kutztown again.
If these types of event visits are not happening, then anyone interested in meeting "rural" in what is basically a modern, relaxed, and entertaining environment, where they are showcasing the fruits of their labor, is a great way to start to make inroads and touch base.