Annoying Trip to the County Fair

CandySwirl

CandySwirl

Disney Obsessed Pony Collector
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
386
So, earlier this month I entered some of my ponies in the county fair. I set up a pretty nice display with some G1 ponies (one was Mimic), some G3 ponies, my G1 transistor radio, and two framed pictures of the rest of my collection. I wasn't expecting first, since the woman judging knew nothing about ponies (When I set up the display and suggested that they should go in the character toys division, she said "These horses have names?") but I at least hoped that the people who did win first would deserve it...

Anyway, I went to the fair today and discovered that I had third place. Second place in my age division was a collection of Pez dispensers. They were all recent, and I feel like I could go to Walmart and purchase their whole collection today.

And first place was two stacks of Pokemon cards. They weren't in a binder or anything, just sloppily stacked on the shelf. you couldn't even see the bottom cards, only the two on the top.

I feel really bad for saying that I don't feel like these people deserved to beat me. But it just seems sort of unfair. I'm not even sure if the judges realize that my ponies are 30 years old. :cry2:

Anyway, I just needed to vent about that a little. It was a disappointing trip to the fair.
 
Hi CandySwirl,

I think a lot of people just don't realize all that goes (and went) into the My Little Pony line and the degree to which people collect them. Maybe if you try it again, you could include a posterboard outlining the timeline of MLP and how it has evolved over the years. It's very hard for a person to look at a group of ponies when they aren't a collector and glean any kind of appreciation from it, in many cases.

But if you approached it like a history presentation, it may more easily relate to people who otherwise aren't as familiar with ponies as we are. :smilepony:

Sorry you didn't win, but best of luck for next time. :)
 
Yes, I think I'll try again next year and maybe make some sort of name cards for each of the ponies I bring with their release year. A timeline is a good idea. After spending so much time on MLPTP, It's always kind of surprising to remember that not everyone can recognize any pony they see. :LOL:
 
Sounds like your display should have won. :( I like Jewel's suggestion, though!!!!
 
Aww, bummer! I would've given you first place! Here, virtual trophy will just have to do...PonyAward.jpg
 
That stinks.
I don't get a lot of people showing much appreciation for my collection of "pony toys" as I wish I did. Having my few collector friends who understand helps so I don't feel completely alone in this world loving ponies as an adult.
 
Aw man, that's disappointing. May I ask how many ponies were included in the collection you entered?
 
ElectricHarpsichord said:
Aw man, that's disappointing. May I ask how many ponies were included in the collection you entered?
Click to expand...

7 G1 ponies and 4 G3 ponies. Since I had a small space and couldn't fit very many ponies, I also had two pictures in frames- one showed my entire collection shelf, and one showed my Baby Bonnet's School of Dance next to its box. And I brought some merchandise- a G1 transistor radio and a G2 McDonald's Lightheart. :smilepony:
 
I'm sorry about that. Gotta say though, at least you got third place and not something like 'Honorable Mention' or nothing at all.
 
That really sucks! I think they were trying to humour some little kid with the cards. I have a giant stack in a box in a closet lol. You should have won! *hands over golden pony*
 
You should have won! :/ Your entry sounded really cool too. Next year you're sure to win! :D
 
I have to say though....a picture of your display made it all the way to the East Coast. :O

My friend went to visit his family that recently moved to Texas. They went to the fair and he sent me a photograph of a lovely pony display with Mimic! I was so excited to see a pony collection so wonderfully represented at a fair (with all the different generations). It made my day. :D

I only saw this post now a week or so after the picture was sent. I hoped it was a collector on here's set of ponies. ^.^

Congrats on the win (even if it wasn't the grand prize). ^.^
 
My guess about the other two getting higher places is due to a little knowledge of collectors' items going a long toward ignorance.

When it comes to collectables, PEZ dispensers show up in books, web articles, and world records. They're so recognizable, and the majority of people know those things have been around awhile. So, combine that little knowledge with a total ignorance of what year they're released/ what's in stores today, and you have a collection that is obviously a rare find of vintage items. :rollingeyes:

Same can go for the Pokemon cards. Far too many people attribute Pokemon's fame to the trading card game and not, y'know, the actual video game that was popular enough to warrant a show, toys, and trading card series. Believe me, nearly every article written about Pokemon by an author who knows nothing about the franchise credits the card game as the thing that made it so popular among children in the USA.
So, combine that little knowledge of a popular series and it's card game, and next to nothing about the trading cards and you have a truly magnificent collection embodying the nature of collectibles.:tongue:

Oh, and then there are those ponies. "Well, they sure are popular among the children, and that display looks better than the rest. Let's give it third place."

That's my take on the judges reasoning.
But, hey, things like this with judges happen all the time (even in art galleries, trust me). Take some time to cool down, and try again next year. I'm sure you can get first place if you keep at it.
 
Foxtale said:
I have to say though....a picture of your display made it all the way to the East Coast. :O

My friend went to visit his family that recently moved to Texas. They went to the fair and he sent me a photograph of a lovely pony display with Mimic! I was so excited to see a pony collection so wonderfully represented at a fair (with all the different generations). It made my day. :D

I only saw this post now a week or so after the picture was sent. I hoped it was a collector on here's set of ponies. ^.^

Congrats on the win (even if it wasn't the grand prize). ^.^
Click to expand...

Oh my gosh! :surprisepony: That really makes the whole experience worthwhile, haha. :LOL: But my display couldn't have made your day as much as this post made my day... maybe my month? :ponylove:
 
Wow, that stinks. Did you get a good look at the Pokemon cards? I'm a Pokemon AND Pony collector, and I could partly understand if the cards won if they were 90s cards, but that's still unfair. Maybe next time you'll win. :)
 
Ask any collector of anything and they will agree. A lot of people don't appreciate collections:cry2: Don't worry though, I hope you do better next time! BTW, I wish somewhere near me had a competition to show off collections:smilepony:
 
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