50 years of real country food ?n? fun in Crane

One of America's last true country fairs, the Crane Broiler Festival is all free, but this year's 50th annual event Aug. 24-25 also sold 26,125 tickets entitling visitors to its renowned barbecued chicken, making it a sellout. Clockwise from top left, Terry Short of Mt. Vernon, who hits the kettle korn trail on weekends with wife Peggy, starts a new batch. Next, great faces and old-fashioned rides, and the littlest ones couldn't get enough of the mushroom ride. 17-year-old Jenkins high school senior Mattie Mallory "loves" her new temporary tattoo from artist Donnie Tate, and yes, Mom, it's only temporary. Far left, nearing dusk, the Domino Kings and bassist Brian Capps moved in under the summer sky in the old Crane ballpark to help close the day with country song.