Unusual inside you can see her and when you see her you will understand why everyone calls her thank goodness child the girl that lives in the girl who's inside. Satan's child There is many things to many people for Carnival lovers farmers and Hobbits the fair presents special attractions the dust noise smells and visual attractions in a variety of people all who come to satisfy their curiosity and to take part in an annual event known as a Red River Valley Fair. Invite you to listen to The Sounds imagine the smells and let your mind paint your pictures. This is a 1974 Red River Valley Fair. Coming to the fairs and then type many wonderful people just just the vast amount of wonderful people. No, it don't ever get tired of never get bored because everybody that comes has a million questions. So to speak and we find we find each individual is different from the other and this gives you a real enjoyment. But she was just too forward to that head and neck. I think we got more. Enough to bring down here. How many cattle do you work with what we have the three here and home and three here and we have we're headed home. Free exciting time then you would think that you put in quite a bit of time pairing for this year. So, you know when you have to raise the animal and and fiddyment and Cliff and stuff like that, it takes just about a whole year to to be ready for fair like this just before you go into the ring doesn't bother me anymore has a little kid. It used to bother me, but doesn't bother me anymore. I'm the store last addresses for North Dakota. Kind of unusual for a woman to be doing. Is it is much work is what led to believe it takes between an hour an hour and a half prepare before the show, and then it's between classes that you prepare for so it takes a lot of time a lot of hard work. Spending the barns during the fair eyes all your time here, or do you get out on the Midway? Then we sleep in the pickup bus time so it gets to be a long day. What kinds of things do you enjoy most about it? How about you meet a lot of people here that you know old friends or do you make new friends at all? both we have new friends both. So it's really loud and nice people around here. High School graduated I got two years of 4-H left anything. I'd like to see in every county is is this Old MacDonald's Farm out here for the town kids that are around there that you know, you can't go in and get things like it is over here. Have you won any prizes? I got grand champion and I'm like Shorthorn. I got first in the class from a CrossFit. I got third on a 19 in that class. I am a child my other Charles Leon and my other Short Pump. Is it kind of nerve-wracking experience before you go out in the show your couch before the judges? Yeah, we have to make them learn to lead and get him used to the Rope halter. So they don't get wild in that. It's a pair of pretty exciting time of the year for you. Yeah, why is it? Are you meet people from other towns and you get to know better? Why do bring the family after the fair and everything you'd want as far as concessions and the rides and everything else here on the Midway. What's the most important thing to you? Well, the thing I like best about the fair right now is the Machine new and agriculture some of this some of the largest I've seen. All right. Now, I'm trying to buy that 14 bottom plow. They have up their company sells a lot of Machinery by displaying it a fair. Well, I think they do in some ways. What does a person bird's eye view of what it really looks like and they can tell the sturdiness of it. I would have to say that this truck they got up here. Let's try axle has never seen one like that now and just dance. I've looked it over on Blaine Minnesota lapidary display Narnia rockhounding and the Allied activities that go along with it cutting polishing and making jewelry and art and art objects and novelties long. Have you been working with rocks like this why we started to collect rocks about 1950 the last five years why we've been going to rock shows. Have flea markets and so forth and and selling some of this material that we have. It's a hobby and it's a skill it must to give you great satisfaction to turn out some of these beautiful. What's it like, how do you feel when you're going out and Gathering and hunting the rocks and all the areas that are available to us? And of course. Going inflicting in various parts the United States and some foreign countries take some money so we can go to fairs Rock shows and flea markets and sell now, of course, this gives us a little income which related supplements are social security. We don't do it really for the money, but just for the enjoyment get out of the many wonderful people just just the vast amount of wonderful people is one other thing to about the about this hobby car. So you can say this for all Hobbies. Once you retire you must have something to do if you don't why you just don't last very long and we and we realize this so we subscribe to the different magazines and looked in the different hobbies and we thought that this was the one that we might enjoy and so we have tried it and if we get tired of this one why we won't pick up another Hobby and go on from there. I'll be at the fair. Glaze on greenware I use the sponge and with my sponge I made an all my design that you see here and then when I got done with all my design, I'm putting in my detail by using I want strokes and doing detail work with my one strokes and putting in all the Declaration and the finishing touches after I had fun and then when I'm all done with this now a little more detail that I want to put on here then I will fire this and I'll be just fired and after the bisque firing then I'll put a clear glaze over the top of this and fired again, and then we'll be washable and reusable. We have some pottery out here and we have some hand-built pieces and we have some pieces that people have painted was trying to paint and we have pieces of people have for detail work on. And we have just some plain glazing pieces of people have been working on with control glazes. But we have the Children's Division from 4 to 8, and then we have the children from 9 to 15. And then we have the senior citizens Division. And then after that we have the amateurs from 16 and up by their pottery. Show up what they've been doing it for C2C what the other people are doing and see how much talent we have involved because you'd be surprised if somebody comes around. This is why we can't do anything with a little bit of help from their instructor. They bring out these hidden talents, which they think they haven't gone and they really have and then when you're working with senior citizens the kiss them occupied give them something to do and get some out talking with other people twitch a lot of needs which is real fun because people bring in anything and everything that they can lay their hands on anything that they can make it any size shape or form. This is where the 10 Talent comes in. What would you say is the most important part of the fair. Is he going to bring the art out and people which is very relaxing to most people there are tight. And when you see them relax, you'd be surprised what they do to their piece of wood that can bring out in a piece. This is what I find very rewarding. My only problem is I wish I had some of my people from the handicap division with some pieces down here because I have been working as a New Horizon manner with a handicapped and we have the people that have had severe strokes and they may have only one hand to work with and this I find very rewarding when I can see them to come up with us a glaze peace and with her hand shaking that they can hardly hold a brush and do anything to do to the people that the display have a lot of pride in their Pottery Award for best of show or oval just any kind of a ribbon this really too bad. You weren't here yesterday. It seemed he one of my little 14 year old girls jump up and down. She was really excited putting her mother. Thank you. This is the IBM scanner computer. I handwriting analysis and you actually do handwriting analysis. What does your analysis tell us about your personality which personality consists of Can we actually try this? Yes, you might just Write Your Name Across the top of the card. standby graphology This is what the machine had to say about you. See I can see your good-natured music going you have an active imagination with all your liver on thought and you also this I see has to be you you enjoy being in the Limelight anybody connected with the entertainment. Well this next when you show a little slide in her depression has also so you can be quite stubborn at times. Persistence persistence persistence better. I say and just by the way, I know how does this fit you sir, Eric? I have to think about it, but so far. I'm not going to complain. I'm not going to come play. This year we're sharing films and movies with boys and girls showing them that Christ is alive and real in the world today. Have you had a good turnout so far? I believe we've had about 200. Children, what would you hope to accomplish by coming to a fair? We hope to reach primarily a child who hasn't had an opportunity to be in church and to hear about Christ and we're simply presenting the message of Salvation. It seems unusual to me. That's it. I think I've come to realize that kids teenagers all of us haven't always been reached in a church setting and that since Christ as a part of the world. It's a valid and reasonable to prevent him here where people are asking questions maybe or looking for something. We have five different film. They're like cartoon strip, maybe 15 minutes long and they have A story like a child involved in stealing something coming to realize that this isn't right or a child in the inner-city. We have a film is there dialogue been with the kids after moving. We usually talk with him asking if they have any questions. Really good questions that make me think which I appreciate. Do you find that there are more people interested this year and what you're doing than in years past or no? I believe from what people have told me that the response is smaller. The number of people actually coming into, you know, a bus like this. Do you have any ideas why I think it has something to do with? The fact that it's free. That's my own opinion. There are lots of theories going around. I think it's just kind of wonder why something is free and why people would be here and maybe you don't want to take the time to find out why is that I think it's a little strange Maybe. popcorn and caramel apple candy blasphemeth caramel corn snow cones and cold drink pop definitely cuz it's so hot out and if it makes everybody really thirsty and needed a great price for it, baffles many of our Foods are like 5 and $0.10 cheaper because they want $0.50 for caramel apple, which is ridiculous. We don't have to go that high. Do you think that people are really check out different stance to find out, you know, like where this girl is cheaper than the guy over there some to buy from her people don't use and look for that. They they want to come with apple bail. Just plain go to any standing by it. Some people will check it out but not always what to why don't make that extra dime because that's just what I'm placing is it people are getting your money that they wouldn't have to charge that much you're getting too much profit. Really. compared to last because prices are so high because of the heat Nana people out here. Now we're independent. We're from Minnesota and we just travel around five state area mostly. Very Meek and Mild one. For the hour of 6:30. I'd like to take just a few minutes of your time. I'd like to tell you a few things about these animals so that you understand. I'm just a little bit better. These are chimpanzees. They are not a member of the monkey family their member of the ape family. Now, they live to be 55 years of age. They have the intelligence of a for 5 year old child has been proven that they have an IQ up to 72 now or five times stronger than a man. In other words for little baby in the center is 5 times as strong as any email you like no. Well actually chimpanzees is so human-like that they just stay amazed people people that have never seen him in person if they have children to a child and mischievous. And they go through the things that really amaze you you know, and we find out that anywhere we go that are crowds build word of mouth. I mean after you see it while you're amazed and you just to continue telling friends and people vomiting then they all come out. Why are you in this business? What do you enjoy about it? well, it's a it's a challenge take a note take an animal from the jungle and make it be Almost Human. And this was a childhood dream and it's just something that I realized that I could ever accomplish because I came originally from Pennsylvania. My father was a coal miner I ran away from home when I was fifteen only want as far as the 8th grade and right now I lecture in universities and colleges throughout the country on anthropoids are grapes because what I've learned the hard way, you know take me 24 years, but right now I'm considered an expert. So actually I think I've done real well for someone that without a educational background right now. I'm in the same income tax bracket is you know, the 40 $50,000 bracket and the so that's quite an accomplishment. I've been on your major TV shows and we tour the east coast and Midwest and this is our fathers out west. This is a new experience, but we've wanted to come out in this part of the country. What are your profession so far of the Midwest? But here people I think I appreciate what you do because they don't say it every day of the week. I mean everybody's been really friendly and I'd like to return here again how human are are a chimpanzee? It's a game. You never know what they're going to do and you talk to them just like I'm talking to you. He said you reward him. The answer is no because if you reward a dog with liver or Force which sugar you're rewarded seal with fish, but you don't really want to jump because if you did he become a walking Candy Factory. They just too intelligent. I noticed quite a few have you quite Stern with them? They have a mind of their own they do exactly what they want to and then they know that in front of an audience it take out the upper hand. So you have to put your foot down and say you will do this. Sometimes I don't they make a monkey out of you. Do traveling in a lot of state fairs and county fairs for the Indiana. That's like twelve hundred miles and then back to Sibley Iowa for one day Ida Grove, Iowa one day and then I jump to Mason Michigan for 3 days. And then I have the Cape Girardeau, Missouri fair. I have the Connecticut state fair, which is Danberry and this is my second year in there. Does it get lonely? No doesn't get lonely because when you have an activist type, you have to be devoted to your act and that's it. I mean you just tied down, you know your time down. It's no problem eating people. You can have all the company in the world because you have something that I think everybody sometime or other life has had the ambition of only the champion really I think this has been everybody's dream. Have you noticed any changes and fears are fares the same as they used to be our I would say the Krauser's right, but the the the element of people coming into the business are not the same. You're getting your getting Melissa. Should we say I younger a hippie type person and the things that Well when I was younger that existed are no longer in existence and I feel that if it's animal won't actually affects me. I'll just go back into the fair business and bring back some good stuff. Now we do have a souvenir picture. If you'd like to buy one you like to have one person over there. Jim will be at the end of the stage as soon as the next ACT start. I would like to remind you. I just returned a 1095 to spend it. Yes or no. Answer you understand whatever I give you yours and all sales are final satisfied to buy it. Now. What time will be lady whatever it is shirt now. And you understand he's running that paper through the machine right now with a 20 runs through that's cash by the body spend $10 for it. Okay, if all right everybody in the world that I miss you I accept that I refunded with no hard feelings by the spend that yes or no. Okay, anybody else want to change their mind and it's alright with me. Okay, but I'll say sold to U-Line people for $10 each now that I said, so bring me up a little with your funny people that sent me up $10 here is what you bought. I mean nine you just want one of us a $10 ballpoint match on the back of my mind and that's what you bought. I think it's just great. But I'm broke. Why do you come to the fair like any of the rides? It looks pretty interesting, but I don't know. Enjoy watching people ride instead of me riding. Why do you suppose people come out? Well for just looking for something to do and and just trying to get some excitement. That's that's The main thing I'm on a fair. I don't know well for the time being but I don't think people in Cuba with a lot of top English on the ball topspin Define people. Are you playing these games know what it is. 9 year old kids. Is there is a locker at just how good you are good, you can do it, you know and I hurt you in a little kids win. It doesn't hurt me about about it. You've been doing this for about 4 weeks now, but well got a long story my brother did it and then I was going on the Marine Corps when I got out somebody made no mention about it. Nice as well. What do you know? I haven't got no tie down so I might as well do it and I guess I'm traveling all the time. I like to travel. I like to see different country and stuff and different people that's really kind of gas and talk. And did you get a chance to really make friends? Yeah, because like right this instance. I've been back to Minneapolis and change it. Maybe I'll just talk to you know, 5% more so in Minneapolis, and I walked all over everybody because I knew You're not going to wreck them among the people who come to the ferris wheel. Jose versus the baskets wicker baskets with So Soft when it's very hard, but you can do it, you know and people figure they're getting ripped off. And I figured tired of it sooner or later. Like once in awhile, just remember why I'm here, you know on you help support of hippies habit monkey on my back say can I ask you when I walk into you know, what's going on? I don't understand what you're saying, but they want to find out what it is that you hook the brain a little bit then they walk at me. I seen guys come up and spend $2 and take away in off of $30 dog. Right soon as I come up and spend a hundred fifty one night and not take nothing on you bought it already take it you are. I try to be at this Fair as I thought about it. a lot of people That there are number of Tri-City still possible to win. Anywhere anywhere you can when something isn't right. places where you can't win it Going to rip you off if they can. I'm not going to anytime anytime a mark when something a car. Whatever it is the Mark 1 like anybody. Every time we want to race. We're going to do it again. Are you ready for work in your black dress on the sound? as soon as a fraction What's the name of the game you got here? Whatever your ship down. That's what you get us you aim for the price. You get a lot of business in this book. Why are nothing spectacular but it's going fine, you know 25. I start usually at the beginning and go to the end. I don't go anyplace else. Enjoy the life traveling while I love to travel my life. So I think it just fit the tickets. All right. Have you been in this kind of business? well quite a long time ride along time. My parents already was created at this sort of business, you know, so I set up just Stop and get all have you always been this kind of. Go to work. different kinds of concessions Circus in all kinds of Carnival and circus and everything like that. Your impression of carnivals these days that have the change. Where they change for the better of it for much better and nicer people now in this into the buses are very particular hoota hoota rent a space to rent a space to everyone just don't like somebody they just don't doesn't matter and it definitely one of the best show that's what I like this very much. Do you ever get lonely traveling from town to town with this business sometime you could be lonely but you never lonely believe me everyday is a holiday every day's a holiday in you. Very seldom put get any press or anything like that because it's always something to do, you know, and it's always Newtown new people and I will travel through the country is a beautiful country in all you got to enjoy it just don't sit behind a trailer and just look at the road and oh my gosh how many more miles just look at the scenery the special variety of birds that setting on a side that black birds with red wings and I don't know what I call a mother beautiful occasionally you see a big birds flying around a hunter or something like that. I'm to Countryside agreeing to the flowers and I enjoy it in a spring at the my favorite season is the fall when the trees are turning colors in on the everything is so beautiful painted, you know, all these things you have to sort of NY. With this setup mix the good with the not-so-good Oceana Hunter then you got something. All right, you know interesting people, you know, you meet all kinds of those people. That's what I enjoy I never get excited or mad or anything like this. I just started the people and see what we can and cannot help but the way he is, you know, and everything you're not the next person that comes to me. I have set up for anxiety and all what kind of a person is going to be what he's going to say. This is the way you look at the life. Of course at the same time you can be very miserable. If you want to be up to you and what you want to do, you know, if you want to be in this business, perhaps you got to be a little different then or you cannot be at the Walker Walker's to the Midway. And the people that are on this side, there's got to be some kind of a different. Otherwise, it's just I don't work. You know, how about a different from people that you see around of August call think you saved so I can get up and you have to speak different languages. If you go to different states. Hear you only change to die like or you always speak English and you sir of Pharr. Look at the people and they are different. They speak little different slang you see but actually I will decide that you so much different. Like that is different between the poles and Germans and the checks and slow. They are different. But of course you find different people when you come down to, Texas. Can you meet this Mexicans or they are different they are very different or you go up North and you going to meet lot of Canadian. They are different. In what ways would you say they are he come here and he dropped a half a dollar on you should see to see if you win the last about two Mexican his money come little harder. So he already have to ask. How much is it until he already is going to give you a little talk and he can get it for $0.25, you know, then if he doesn't win something big piece terribly disappointed, but of course the Canadian is not as much disappointed at the Mexican just to kind of the Canadian gets his money little easier. But they're not such a sport about event. They lose it. The American people they are just Sports. Because their money comes so easy. I don't think so. No, sir. No, sir. They have different mine broad-minded tired that I have been naturalized in in Parris Island in United States Marines in love or two. I mean I have been in Europe in concentration camp in 1938. And I have set of car was a soapbox speaker against Hitler which wasn't very good that time. So they put me in a concentration camp besides. I am check bottom check and I was about six months and I knew Apache water once a day for 6 months. That wasn't very good diet for a for a 19 year old boy, so I break out from time to time my uncle stay at the carnival and we mix circles and carnivores together in Europe. Guys, we had high I buy specialized high wire performer. I was going to Highwire with my family and then I had a high wire rack in this country right after War my own eyes. I have I called myself the great Vino. And I was doing my act for 20 years very successful and I am 56 years old now and I'm wise enough to know that 56 year old man have no business on a Highwire but I mean I still could do it, but I don't think that would be intelligent. Like my good friend ball and right and he is not 360. 68 years old what we know what can I lose, you know? Why don't you come in this business? This is no time to deepen. He says to deepen a high-wire. That's what I going to die. He told me he's the father walks over these Cliffs, you know, and I know but all kinds of a canyons and everything. He's quite good for his age. Are you sad you had to give it up? Yes. Yes. Yes. I am. I used to love it very much. I mean sorry, that was my pride. You know, I mean Let's face it the show people are show-offs, you know, once you have to give it up you miss her tremendously. There is nothing like nothing right, but the throttle I got a home in Florida, I could get thousands of jobs there. Do you know? But I don't want it cuz I wanted to travel and the week is over. I want to go back to step down put in the truck hooked up and see what's on the other side of the Hill. That's all and I have been all over the world. I work in Africa to They're not allowed to upload. They don't allow somebody stop clapping. Comes the guy and his Savannah has he said be quiet. Monster is working. You know, I'm in the city of the white man was a monster and the but it's different now knocking the right man. What the heck? Yeah, but the world is changing. You know that I'm in the people are changing everything. I should say. It's for the better of it. I never would say the good old days. There's no such thing as a poodle days. The only thing good was we was young. That is the only thing but the world is going for the better of it. So much better. People don't realize it when they just think that a woman drops it dirty clothes in the machine and few little bit of soap. Close it up with people just don't realize how good they are off, you know. How wonderful you live nowadays with all the modern conveniences. I got a house trailer Airstream. That's my haven't I got that inside today inside. I got 75° beautiful air condition refrigerator everything inside know my grandfather going from place to place and it was hot Ones hot. Every place was called was told everything nowadays. And I just hope that we don't spoil it. So I hope I stay in this business as long as I can. Thank you very much in love. You know that used to be the great being on. I'm just playing vino veritas in history. All right. Play I can kick kick kick. All right. the best man you have ever seen Can you imagine a man? while I was I started smoking opium and experimenting with various other drug as result of boredom and curiosity. When I returned to the state I continued using any illegal drugs I could get I took uppers downers and hallucinating drugs never realizing how they could affect my mind and my body and medical term. I suffered a severe psychological effects from the drug. They brought Layton neuroses to the surface mine being strong Suicidal Tendencies manifesting themselves in a compulsive eating syndrome and play Never daylight. This means I gave up and tried to destroy myself like gorging myself with food. I ate constantly. Getting larger and larger until I reach the unreal weight of 1187 lb. I was unable to walk doctor gave me only a few months to live. I began to see how I had breakfast. Well, let's talk about nine years, which I think I gained from about 200 lb to my top wages in in about seventy one of those 1187 lb and Veteran who was your typical diet or when to add one sitting when you were gaining weight a barrel of chicken 21 Pizza to get it in about 14 inch pizzas and big casserole to macaroni and cheese. Just continuously eating all the time. And so I just didn't I just didn't even realize I did and I just had something to eat all the time when I was awake and just continue that way. How does it feel to be on display? At first it. I've been on the road for four years now for drug abuse and or Christian farm with the drug Care Center out of Killeen Texas a first-year advising me somewhat, but now I figured that I just don't let it bother me. I just forget to the windows are earned just have my own little world. I didn't hear your messages getting across. Well, I have talked to people where I been in it has a very good results. I mean, it's people have talked to her really convinced. It's if it's it's might happen to them. They're not going to touch drugs and scoring records has you listed as the world's heaviest man, but you're trying to lose weight, aren't you? Yes, I am. I hope within within 3 to 5 years. If I continue on this diet barring no complication with my health. I should be down to normal way to buy 200 lb What are you what do you see as your future? What do you want to do? Because I mean I'm really interested in it and I can see what can be done and what should be done in one thing by Golden Earring in high school colleges in different places like that and try to reach him and show him with can be done. It just takes willpower and and if I can get to him before, you know, they get addicted to drugs and I say they have a chance in my car on display for Christian Farms organization is dedicated to fighting drug abuse. What can you tell us about that organization? They don't believe in the methadone system of curing the take somebody off a drug is not cold turkey and they have somebody with him all the time. And then while they are being religious so you tend to go but spiritual guidance and things like that and then they Hey, give my vocation then they got him right on back where they get back on their own and reproductive and put them back, you know to work in and really got him right all the way and help in the money that you glean from being on display and in fairs and carnivals and so forth goes to support Christian Farms maintenance and everything for their operation must be a religious man. Well, I try to be in my own of the way. I mean, I believe in God and I read the Bible to when I get depressed and things like that. I mean, that's what I say. I'm not a churchgoer because I don't I keep my own little Tabernacle myself you might say but I try to follow as much as possible to do the right thing and everything it down because of what happened to you know, I believe in some ways to do this if you didn't Maybe it's in the way that somebody doing this. I'm doing my part and someway that if it is, at least I'm better than staying at home doing nothing and just just existing. What do you like most about the fair? Where did you get the money then says to go on the ride? Are you going to go on next? table thing over there After I got sick. close What is the door? Watch what we're going to do now. Play down here at the back we're going to do at watch. my location way down are the dancing girl show up. Going to bring out a couple of the girls were going to have a little free entertainment. Bring out Ruby booby or what? Yeah way down here to Beck Rockstar tomorrow. by going through this way down here at the clinic in the Midway. See this watch. Stop right there. I know you folks didn't come up tonight. Red River Valley Fair I know you're all intelligent enough to know exactly the kind of entertainment. We have we call you attention to the name over the doorway shapery the young lady right over there. It's JJ the little French girl inoj does a dance on the inside of our show for all the ladies. That's right. Is it going to pay Charla girls 5 new household hints a girl with a million dollar Treasure Chest. That's a girl that has more movements and a 21 Jewels Swiss watch. She does a dance on the inside of this can even go into the details of it. We have too many small children right out here. The young lady I'm depending upon to send you out of the show a walking jogging advertisement. If you start just her act alone could walk out of our show highly entertained as well satisfied from New York as a famous fan dance. Don't get the wrong idea. She doesn't use 6:45 pay it. She does the Fargo special. She's got left a couple of pictures turn out the door with your hands over your ice cream and oh my goodness. I didn't realize it. Was that kind of a show. Yes it is that kind of a show. dehydrated That was the 1974 Red River Valley Fair the sounds and excitement from the animal barns to the Midway as well as the people who participated and those who came to see. This program was the production of kccm radio and reporters were Mary Jo. Brim John ydstie Dennis Hamilton and Eric Fontaine.