Rides, food, music -- and a pink stuffed fish

Brenda Miller held out a dart.

"See if you can hit one of these balloons," she said, pointing to dozens of bright globes hanging on a board at her booth at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma.

Miller was managing one of dozens of concession booths at the

"I love the carnival," Miller said. "I love the lights, the games, the rides, the kids," she said. "I'm a people person."

The fair-goer threw the dart. There was a short pop. A balloon deflated.

"You won," said Miller, a resident of Porterville and veteran of scores of county fairs with her employer, VL Concessions.

"Here's your prize," she said.

It was a small, pink stuffed fish.

"Congratulations," Miller said.