When an institution has been around for 146 Years, there is little you can say about it that hasn’t been said before. But as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey packs up their tent and gear for the last time this Sunday, May 21st (and coincidentally ships a lot of that memorabilia to Illinois State University for safe keeping) many people are weighing in nonetheless. Current and former employees of Ringling are paying their respects online and saying their goodbyes in person, some are moving back home after years on the road, others are seeking new opportunities elsewhere and many  are fondly paying homage to the company that gave them the opportunity to live their dreams of being in the circus. We checked in with a few members of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey community to ask if they had any stories or thoughts they wanted to share about the significance the Greatest Show on Earth had on their lives and here is what they had to say:

  Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson Reflects Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson doing what he loves. Photo courtesy of Ringling Bros. Can you share a memory or a story about your time at Ringling that exemplifies what Ringling means to you? No one event can capsulize such a rich and multifaceted experience. There is no one thing. Life at Ringling Bros. defied expectations for me. This wa...