We Went To The Animal Fair
Today marks the beginning of the 59th annual Howard County Fair. It lasts a week. We decided to go.
County fairs are low key entertainment. And because Howard County is so small, our fair is very low key and very local. You see people you know... teachers, friends, co-workers, even a farmer or two. It's a time to chat with neighbors and catch up. We've gone most years since the kids were little only slacking off in recent years since the kids no longer think of the farm critters as anything special. They're just "big, slobbering farm animals" as D- put it.
This year's fair was about the same as last years. On the first day they hold the Fireman's Parade. All the county volunteer fire companies send an engine or two to be on parade. The fire engines along with old cars, bands, and vintage tractors drive down the center of the fair grounds to the ooohs and aaahs of the adoring Howard County public. See what I mean? Low key.
A highlight for us is the 4-H craft exhibit hall. There you will find quilts and framed needlepoint pictures all of which took much longer than a year to complete. All that effort for a blue ribbon 7 inches long.
The animals are always entertaining for me. Growing up in the suburbs in no way prepares you for farm animals and their attendant upkeep. I tend to gawk at the animals and owners as if they were from Mars marvelling at how close one has to get to the animals and some very basic animal functions. We strolled through the cow palace and saw several families eating their lunches right beside huge wheelbarrows filled with fresh manure. I guess you get used to that. In the show ring we watched a cow milking competition. I don't think I could bring myself to yank on a cow's teat for love or money. Does the cow even notice that activity? We visited the poultry exhibit and saw these things called "capons", which are castrated roosters. They get to be 14-16 pounds. We saw one bending the wire of his cage with his beak trying to get out.
I brought my camera and took some pictures. Click on the link to see the thumbnails. Click on a thumbnail to see the enlargement.
K-
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Great pictures. I, like you, wonder how to judge hay, and about the reason for the display of the woman's torso.
For me, the only reasons to go to the county fair any more are the corndogs and lemon shake-ups. I swoon.
I love what you wrote about the dranks! Hilarious! I'll be serving dranks the next time I have company over. That is great. I'm still laughing.
As for the Republican tent, probably the only thing you missed was the collective sigh of relief that Maryland got rid of Alan Keyes by sending him to Illinois for the next three months.
Did the Maryland Republicans send him? I thought the Illinois Republicans recruited him because he is black. There can't be any other reason. (Well, maybe Keyes's ego.) It can't be for his winning record. Enjoy.
K-
You're right. He was recuited. Bad choice of words on my part.