Description:

This set of collectible phone cards from 1996 celebrates the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair held in California, prominently featuring Pepsi-Cola branding. The front of the card vividly captures the spirit of this rural fair with a playful, cartoon-style design. It depicts a man wearing a cowboy hat—likely a fair participant or judge—standing alongside animated farm animals, including a pig, a sheep, and a goat. The man holds a blue ribbon, suggesting a contest or award ceremony, a common fair activity. Bold text displays the event dates as September 4–8, 1996, with the location clearly marked as Tulelake, California. Pepsi's logo is prominently positioned, emphasizing the promotional aspect of this collectible item.

On the reverse side, the card offers practical functionality beyond its commemorative value. It provides detailed instructions for using the phone card, including a toll-free number and steps to activate and extend service time, reflecting mid-1990s technology. The list of sponsors extends beyond Pepsi, featuring Staub Petroleum Products, Inc., Harvest (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury), and a "Super Blue Green Cell Tech" logo, adding a technological or environmental dimension to the traditional agricultural fair theme. Notably, the card highlights that the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair is “the only free gate, no alcohol fair in California,” emphasizing its community-focused, family-friendly atmosphere.

The artistic portrayal of farm life, with cartoon animals and a cowboy-hatted man, evokes the rural agricultural heritage central to the Tulelake-Butte Valley region. The pig wearing glasses and a cheeky grin, the smiling sheep, and the friendly goat create an inviting, whimsical scene that balances nostalgia with fun. Behind the animals, the man with the blue ribbon symbolizes a celebration of local farming excellence, harvests, and livestock competitions—staples of state and county fairs. The layout and font reinforce a rustic, down-to-earth vibe, while the bright Pepsi colors add a modern pop to the design.

Overall, this collectible phone card captures a snapshot of mid-90s Americana embedded in small-town California culture. It combines promotional branding with local pride, farm life, and the spirit of a community fair—complete with rides, contests, and soft drink sponsors. The practical phone card format, paired with colorful, detailed illustrations, reflects how contemporary technology intersected with traditional, festive gatherings. This item serves as both a nostalgic keepsake for fairgoers and a glimpse into a specific moment in time when state fairs celebrated harvests, livestock, and wholesome family entertainment under wide-open skies.

Since we have the world's largest inventory of USA phonecards for collectors, you will not necessarily receive the identical serial/batch/PIN number that we have scanned/pictured.