With the prospect of indulging on cotton candy, corn dogs or a bacon cheeseburger sandwiched between two glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts – a concoction affectionately known as the “Luther Burger” – it’s easy the “find your happy” at the S.C. State Fair.

The fair, which runs Oct. 12-23, also is a place where you can – possibly in between snacks – discover more about South Carolina’s past. Each year, the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina presents the state fair with the mission “to promote the material, educational, agricultural and industrial interests of the state.”

With six buildings and more than 125,000 square feet of exhibit space, the state fair offers a glimpse into various aspects of South Carolina life. Within the exhibition halls, fair attendees will see the results of competitions judging everything from gardening and cooking to crafts and artwork.

In a nod to our state’s thriving agricultural roots, competitive events also cover cattle and other livestock to crops such as cucumbers, sweet potatoes and apples.

History tells us the “agricultural revolution” helped to teach self-sufficiency. Hard work in addition to self-sufficiency are values I learned growing up on a family farm and they are traits we identify with farmers even today.

Fair organizers value this link to our past and it’s a passion they are passing along to our young people. For instance, the fair sets aside days during its run to offer free admission to members of 4-H Clubs and Future Farmers of America (FFA).

With more than 6 million young people involved, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. The organization has members in every state and chapters or related programs in more than 80 countries.

The National FFA boasts of more 520,000 members in more than 7,400 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization prepares its members for more than 300 careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.

State fair organizers along with these youth organizations help connect us with our past and sow the seeds for lessons that last a lifetime. Whether you were raised on a farm or not, the agricultural industry has something to offer – more than just food at the dinner table.

It is an honor to serve you in Columbia, and I am grateful for your continued support. As with all matters concerning state government, I want to hear your opinions and suggestions concerning these issues. Please contact me in my Columbia office located at 602 Gressette Office Building. You can reach me, or a member of my staff in Columbia at (803) 212-6008 or by fax at (803) 212-6011. My district office is located at 137 Airport Road, Suite J, Mullins, SC 29574, the phone number is (843) 423-8237 and the fax number is (843) 431-6049. You may also email me at kentwilliams@scsenate.gov.

As always, I also want to supply you with my business phone number so that you will able to reach me easily at any time. My business phone is (843) 423-3904. Please use this information to write, call or email me with your suggestions and concerns regarding issues before the Senate and in our community.