Contributed by Alys Culhane
The morning after the final day of the 2026 Alaska State Fair dawned rainy and cold. This failed to put a damper on my mood. In fact, I walked around with a decided bounce in my step, for this year, the BLBP outreach/book distribution efforts were a huge success.
I, along with one staff person and approximately 30 volunteers, parted company with the contents of 40-plus boxes containing approximately 40 books each. These books came to the BLBP via the Mat-Su School District, who earlier in the year closed Meadow Lakes and Larson Elementary Schools.
Prior to the fair, BLBP President Pete Praetorius placed the majority of the cleaned, stamped and vetted books in 12 repurposed newspaper boxes in the vicinity of the Red Trail. The boxes had been passed on to the BLBP by Mat-Su Sentinel newspaper founder/editor Amy Bushatz, who acquired them when the Sentinel purchased the Frontiersman newspaper. Community members painted and then lent the boxes to the BLBP.
The boxes were placed in theme-related locations: Brad’s Reptile House, Cornucopia Ice Cream, the Bee Demo, the Petting Zoo, the Eckert Garden, the Tiny Tots children’s area, the Mat-Su College Cabin, the Alaska State Fair recycling area, the Irwin Building, the Hoskins Building and Raven Hall.
The remaining books were available at the Hitchin’ Post in the France Equestrian Center, located off the Yellow Trail, adjacent to the horse arena and stables.
The Alaska State Fair program called our site “The Hitching Post Family Rest Stop.” During the fair, it was occupied by the BLBP and Kids Kupboard. The former provided free books, and the latter provided snacks and coloring materials. The addition of patio furniture and a gas stove/fireplace created a warm and inviting atmosphere for all fair attendees. There was also a child’s reading/storytime area.
There was no downtime for the BLBP or Kids Kupboard board members, staff or volunteers. The cabin was always full.
There were, during the duration of the fair, horse-related events. I was particularly impressed by the 4-H’ers, who all exhibited a high degree of professionalism on and off their horses, and as well their mounts, who were excellent steady eddy companions.
My favorite horsey event was the children’s costume class. Here the young riders appeared in the ring in a variety of costumes. My favorite was called “On Safari.” Two children, a striped blanket under them, were led by a third child who was wearing a safari hat. The horse ambled along beside its owner around the arena, oblivious to the crowd that clapped when it passed by the bleachers.
Like last year, the BLBP conducted several storytime sessions. This year, BLBP volunteers read to rescue pigs, ponies, the Scottish Highland cow and, again, to an alligator. Last year, I literally stumbled across Alli, who was going for a stroll on the Red Trail. I then talked to her keeper, Cyndy Lopez, who agreed that she should do an alligator storytime. Alli and the children were so receptive that we agreed to do this again this year.
During the first and second weeks of the fair, Cyndy respectively read the children Alligator Gumbo and Alligator Soup. Alli did not seem at all bothered by the books’ content, and in fact, both times she rested in Cyndy’s arms. After, Cyndy allowed the children, one at a time, to touch Alli, providing them with specific directives and as well, info about her charge. For instance, we learned that Alli, age 38, eats and digests more food in warm, as opposed to cold weather. She also eats while in the water, a diet that’s mainly comprised of chicken.
A few days before the third and final storytime, I mentioned to an Orange Parking Lot attendant that there was to be a final Sunday evening Alligator Storytime. Hearing this, he asked if he could come along. I said yes; then I watched as his eyes lit up. And so, that evening, an entourage, which consisted of me pulling a wagon full of bagged books, three BLBP volunteers and the parking lot attendant, made our way across the lot and into the very crowded Kid’s Zone building. There, resting quietly, was Alli, who must have recently been fed, for she had a bulging belly.
Cyndy hoisted the 40-pound alligator onto her lap and invited passersby to come and listen to a story. The area was crowded; however, the children remained calm and attentive. I noticed that the one who was most rapt was the parking lot attendant. As he later told me, “I love alligators and finally I got to pet one.”
In reflecting upon yet another successful BLBP fair venture, I thought, no wonder I have a bounce to my step.
Alys Culhane divides her time between being the BLBP Executive Director/Operations Manager and tending to her own horses, three Icelandic mares who have an affinity for the book Mr. and Mrs. Hay.
