Sensory Exploration at the Johnson County Fair

The county fair provides a display of sensory experiences that awaken every sense. From the moment you step through the entrance gates, you're immersed in a world where sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch combine to create an incredible outing for kids and adults to learn and exercise the brain.

All information to our brain first enters through the senses (sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell). Each sense activates different parts of the brain, and using multiple senses at once helps one pay attention and form short and long-term memories.

The visual spectacle begins with carnival rides and vendor booths. Inside exhibition halls, 4-H displays showcase youth achievements through colorful project exhibits. Open class exhibits feature hanging quilts, flowers, and arts and crafts.
Sound creates the fair's rhythmic heartbeat through the mechanical whirs of carnival rides, people chattering and laughing, and live music. Livestock contribute their own soundtrack as cattle low and sheep bleat, connecting visitors to the fair's agricultural roots.

The aromatic landscape tells its own delicious story. Sweet scents of cotton candy and funnel cakes drift through the air, mingling with the aroma of hamburgers and cheese curds. The livestock barns add their own distinct fragrance that you can't get from a book.

Tactile experiences are abundant as visitors grip ride safety bars and pet animals. The sun's warmth fades as evening breezes bring cooler air.

The county fair proves that the best entertainment engages all the senses, creating an immersive experience that transforms a simple outing into an unforgettable adventure.

by Joy Miller, Home and Family Agent, 2025