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Postal Service puts stamp on NDSF

State and County Fairs stamps unveiled at Minot ceremony

Jill Schramm/MDN Shown at the unveiling of the State and County Fairs stamps are, from left, Corey Heiser with the North Dakota Association of Fairs, State FFA President Brianna Maddock, U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer David Williams, North Dakota State Fair manager Renae Korslien and National Anthem vocalist Chloe Marie.

It was a blue-ribbon moment at the North Dakota State Fair Thursday when postal and fair representatives dropped a blue veil to reveal the design of new State and County Fairs postage stamps.

The Forever stamps officially went on sale Thursday, and NDSF fairgoers lined up to be among the first to possess them.

Heather Williams doesn’t plan to mail any letters with hers.

“They are probably going to go on my desk at work,” said Williams, employed in the mailroom at Sanford Health. “I like them. They are really neat.”

Williams said she and her friend, who is postmaster in Mandan, made the trip to the State Fair on Thursday specifically for the national unveiling of the new stamp.

Wilma Adams of Drake also planned her fair visit to coincide with the unveiling and a rodeo taking place on Thursday.

“I think they are nice. It’s a nice commemoration,” she said of the stamps. She said she will be using her stamps to mail letters.

The whimsical, colorful stamps are actually four stamps that, when lined up, form a panorama. The first stamp shows farmers unloading produce behind a white fence. The second stamp features a child holding a chicken while sitting atop the same fence, with a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round in the background. Those rides can be seen in the third stamp, where some fairgoers admire the livestock behind the fence while others walk, balloons in hand, toward a sweets stand. The last stamp shows children at the stand buying treats from the vendor.

The art director was Greg Breeding. Mike Ryan designed the stamps with original art by Mick Wiggins.

David Williams, the Postal Service’s chief operating officer and executive vice president, told the crowd the stamps commemorate the feelings that surround a summer’s day at the fair.

“Each time you use these stamps to mail your cards and letters, it is our hope that it will remind you of the feelings you have today and spur memories of wonderful fair experiences for the recipients of your mail,” Williams said.

“Fairs have something for everyone. Quintessentially American, fairs have become social and educational events, with opportunities to learn, teach, socialize and have fun with friends and family,” he added. “Fairs have come a long way from their humble beginnings as friendly competitions, awarding blue ribbons for the best farm animals, produce, baked goods, home preserves and arts and crafts. Today, many state and county fairs have evolved to become venues for consumers to connect directly with farmers, whether it’s to identify local suppliers of organic food or to buy shares in a local farmer’s seasonal produce.”

State FFA President Brianna Maddock, Kindred, noted that fairs create connections among people.

“Just as the fair provides us a space to make these important connections, so does the United States Postal Service. The Postal Service is dedicated to fostering these connections among people, regardless of the distance. It provides a means of communication for people across the entire United States,” she said. “So it is profoundly perfect that these stamps will allow the Postal Service to continue to foster these connections by giving a nod to the connecting spirit of the fair.”

Corey Heiser, North Dakota Association of Fairs board member, Fargo, called fairs one of the oldest traditions.

“State and county fairs are deep-rooted in the history of the United States and especially in agriculturally based states, such as ours,” he said. “These stamps commemorate greatly each of these accomplishments, emotions and hard work of a fair family.”

The unveiling at the State Fair in Minot triggered the release of the stamps nationwide.

‘We are so very, very thankful to the United States Postal Service to select North Dakota’s State Fair, amongst all the other wonderful county and state fairs. So we feel very, very honored,” fair manager Renae Korslien said.

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