Some people grow up in small towns and could not imagine living anywhere else. Others live for the buzzing city life. Either way, there are definitely some major differences between the two settings.

I grew up in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania – Oley Valley. It is a relatively widespread area, but most of it consists of corn fields and rolling green hills. Lots of people say there is nothing to do there. It is home to a few gas stations, a grocery store, a couple of pizza places, and it was a huge deal when we built in a Dunkin Donuts a few years ago. It may not seem like a lot, but there are so many little things to love about this rural town.

One of the biggest events in my hometown is the Oley Fair that takes place in mid-September each year. People come from all over to feast on the famous French fries, thick milkshakes, and tables filled with homemade baked goods. You can also walk through barns full of show animals – sheep, pigs, cows, goats, and even bunnies. If you’re not an animal person, there’s plenty of classic fair rides to do, like the family favorite Ferris wheel. It’s really cool to ride it at night when you can see all the lights across the fairgrounds and beyond from the top. The fair is a great place to catch up with friends and just hang out.

Although the fair is one of my favorite events that takes place in the Valley, there are so many other things that I have come to love about my small hometown. People are usually pretty close to each other. My graduating class at Oley Valley High School had about 170 students, so everyone basically knew each other. It’s nice to have so many people that you can go to at any time and actually know them as a person. It also means that word spreads fast, so it does not take long for a piece of juicy gossip to circulate around.

Another great thing about this “cow town” is that it has some beautiful roads to run, bike, and walk on. Being a runner myself, I have spent countless hours jogging along the narrow roads winding through the Valley. No matter which way you go, there will always be some striking views of the green fields below you or colorful trees beside you; not to mention that there’s barely ever any heavy traffic on the local roads.

Not everyone can fall asleep at night in their hometown to barely a sound except for wind and crickets. We may not have a shopping mall in our town, but we have a handful of delicious small restaurants where the people will usually know you by name. Residents don’t have to wait in heavy city traffic to get around either. In a small town like Oley, people have the freedom to do many fun things that are impossible to do in big towns. The small town life is not for everyone, but don’t underestimate the opportunities that can come out of it. I am not disappointed that I get to call Oley Valley my hometown.