It’s Cotton Candy, How Bad Could It Be?
Somerset County, New Jersey is having their annual 4-H fair (August 6 – 7 – 8) this week. As I drove passed the open field filled with tents last night it reminded me of a corporate event that happened more than twenty years ago.
To prove that corporations have a heart (albeit a small one) they volunteer their employees, with pay, to work for a day at a charity or a community project or event.
In the past I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity (we fixed up an older volunteer’s home) and America’s Grow a Row (harvested vegetables to feed the hungry). However, the most memorable (and not for the right reason) was volunteering, with my work group, for the 4-H Fair in Somerset County.
I don’t remember much about the fair except, I know there were tents with animals, lots of kids, awards were given, and maybe a few rides.
The Fair Grounds manager (if that was even a real title) gathered the volunteers to give us our assignments.
Not sure if the manager looked at the a few of us and thought, ‘hmmm, lets keep these three out of trouble..’
Myself and two others were assigned to the cotton candy tent.
Cotton candy?
That should be easy.
How wrong we were.
After what happened to us, I don’t know how people can even eat that stuff.
It was a hot August day, so wore a light cotton short sleeve green shirt with the 4-H logo on the back.
We were given a quick lesson on how to load and run the machine and to make the cotton candy cone itself. It wasn’t rocket science (I’m sure rocket science hurt a whole lot less).
Once the booth opened we’d take turns making the cotton candy, serve the customer, and take their money. In between those tasks was general clean-up.
After awhile I noticed, after a short run of making the candy cone, my right arm began to burn. I mean really, really burn.
As I made each cone, my arm was exposed to the cotton candy that would stick to my skin.
Fun fact, when sugar melts at high temperatures in the making of cotton candy it is hotter than boiling water. Molten sugar (cotton candy) is sticky and adheres to the skin which prolongs the burning process.
Also, sugar is flammable.
Who the hell invented cotton candy, Josef Mengele?
Of course, at the time, I knew nothing of the damning aspects of cotton candy because I thought it was, you know, candy.
I continued my charitable work, making those potential fire-bombs and handed them out to kids.
After more burning on my right arm, I switched to my left. Not sure the reason beyond an even distribution of pain.
Eventually I had to stop, both arms burned and both were a deep, dark red. I mentioned what happened to an actual member of 4-H (not a volunteer).
Without hesitation, she said, “Oh, yeah, you need to rinse your arms in warm water to avoid burns.”
How about you start with that little helpful hint?
That was the end of a very painful day of volunteering. I felt the burn for hours afterwards.
In the future, if you are going to volunteer, build house, pick vegetables, do anything except make cotton candy, because making cotton candy just may kill you.
August 7th, 2025
