Refers to the old practice of grading cotton not the highest or lowest quality but the grade in the middle between the best and the worst. Southern collaqualism means fair or ok
Term meaning "okay" rather than "fantastic" or "terrible". Derived from the classic game Oregon Trail, which was played on old school Apple Computers. When asked how good of a shot you are, your options are: poor, fair to middlin', and expert.
In the cotton industry a number 1 bail of cotton is linen grade while a number 2 bail is "Fair to middilin', not good enough for linen but good enough for bluejeans. A fair to middilin' bale of number 2 grade cotton.
Storeclerk ask me how was my day, and I replied "Fair to middilin, hows yours".