ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The countryside of Baldwin County brims with cattle chewing cud as they stroll on lush hillsides, golden bales of hay that glimmer in the sun’s beams and bowing fruit trees that nearly brush the ground with the weight of their bounty. Juicy, red tomatoes overflow from five-gallon buckets and from dinner plates in summer while fall brings yellow squash dishes and savory vegetable stews.

While today, many run to the nearest grocery store or fast-food chain for a quick meal and watch memories of homemade cobbler, canned figs and jams fade into memories, Sonny and Melinda Hankins continue to dedicate their lives to keeping those memories a reality.

Sonny grew up on a farm, and while Melinda was raised in town, she quickly jumped on board to help her husband raise a Southern family, along with many other Southern accoutrements…

“We’re a farm family,” Sonny declared. “We raised beef, deer, ice potatoes to soybeans and everything in between.”

Melinda said their two sons grew up bringing animals to the fair.

After participating in the Baldwin County Fair for many years and watching his father sit on the fair’s board of directors, Sonny became a board member in 1958 and the fair manager in 2003. He is also chairman of the fair's building committee and a member of the Alabama Association of Fairs that puts on 32 fairs across the United States.

“It's been a lifetime work — it’s a tradition and I really like it because I want this carried on,” he said with a smile. “I want to promote industry and agriculture and I love the people, I love the children and I love Baldwin County.”

Since Sonny works as manager and Melinda works as the fair’s event coordinator, the couple spend most of the year organizing the five-day event.

“I don’t golf, I hunt a little bit, but this is my hobby,” he explained.

Melinda is all in when it comes to her time, too.

“We try to introduce new exhibits and we’ve added entertainment from the circus, the craft tent, Baldwin Youth Orchestra and the duck pond,” she said with satisfaction. “We run the gamut.

“It’s a community activity and it’s good for families.”

She explained that the fair once had about 200 entries while in the old building, but the new building Fairground Road had 920 entries last year.

It features canned goods and baking contests in addition to quilt and needlework displays, livestock and produce items. Of course, the midway with rides and games is another popular portion.

The Hankins have also worked to bring a variety of exhibits under this year's theme, “Energizing Baldwin County.” Inside displays will show the progression of antique to modern through a variety of engines, vacuums, and even automobiles. The new, electric Chevrolet Volt and other examples will continue to be on display through the fair’s duration, today and Saturday (Sept. 30-Oct. 1).

Sonny added they couldn’t put on such a large and varied event by themselves. He said he appreciates the South Alabama Antique Tractor and Engine Club, for one.

“They do such a tremendous job in bringing old farm machinery that my generation worked on,” he said.

But many more have helped make the fair a success, he explained.

“I’m thankful to all the contributors down through the years, especially the Baldwin County Commission,” he said with gratitude in his voice.