The birds and the beasts were there - well, mostly chickens, sheep, and cows.
All the children in our school district had the day off on Friday for "Fair Day." We live in a rural area and so many children raise animals to show at the fair that they give everyone the day off. So we went. It was fun to show Brendan what a county fair is like in America (or at least in Texas), since we'd been to a few in England.
In England, even in the middle of July, it can be blustery cold. You park in a sheep paddock and walk around the hedge rows to get to each section of the fair. They had lots of blow-up slides, some cheesy rides and midway games. They show small animals like chickens and rabbits and sell home-baked goods, have clay pidgeon shoots and sheep-hearding demos. Not bad. The most disappointing thing is the food. They roll up in snack wagons and sell burgers and dogs and not much else.
In comparison, the county fair in Texas had more and bigger stuff. They had lots more large animals. They showed and judged and gave awards for the kids that raised them. Some kids go to college off the money they win on prize-winning steer and sheep. There was a petting barn in which we touched chicks, piglets, calves, and lambs. There were the homemade goods, both baked and handmade things like quilts that were judged. The high school bands were going wild. The midway was huge with many more rides and games. And the food! Glorious fair food! We didn't sample any because it was too hot to eat, but it was all there - funnel cakes, sausage on a stick, turkey legs, kettle corn, big sour pickles and so much more. Plus each night they put on a rodeo with barrel racing, calf roping and bull-riding, and live concerts. We didn't stay for the night activities, but I still want to see some bull-riding.
We'll have to go back next year. We made some rooky mistakes going too early. Next year, we'll stay late, go hungry and enjoy the nightlife.
