Top 10 Important Lessons Learned at the County Fair

Whoa.  Since school let out for the summer, our lives have been nonstop, action packed and mostly all fun. We began summer break with an adult trip to Las Vegas for the weekend {sorry no Vegas pics} and moved right in to our county fair week.  

There are so many life lessons learned at the county fair.  Every year a few new lessons sneak their way in and the old ones are reiterated.

Here is my Top Ten:

County Fair Lesson #1:  It's really IS OK to accept a foot long, mustard slathered corn dog from a 6 foot 5 bearded man....especially when his name is Jeff.

County Fair Lesson #2:  When your shoes {or your kid's shoes} fall off in the midst of a Zipper ride, don't worry about recovering them, just sheild your head for cover.

County Fair Lesson #3:  Try your darnedest to keep your "whites" as white as possible on show day, even while scooping poop in the barn or walking through poop on your way to the show ring.

County Fair Lesson #4:  When your heifer is "in heat" on show day, try your hardest not to fall down when she jumps on top of you.....all three times.  Good job, Bryce.  {Side lesson for Mom....stifle your scream when your kid is jumped in the show ring by his "in heat" heifer.....I still need to work on this one.}

County Fair Lesson #5:  It's much more fun hanging out at the dairy barn, playing cards with your buds than going to the carnival, any day of the week.

 County Fair Lesson #6:  Down time is important at the trailer, OR..........

ring side....

County Fair Lesson #7 :  Always bring and wear long sleeves and pants when participating in the Pig Scramble...even in 85 degree temperature.

County Fairy Lesson #8 :  When your kid's heifer is in heat, give her a hand {or arm} to use as a pacifier before entering the show ring.

County Fair Lesson #9 :  Always lend a helping hand to your friends and let the older kids show the younger kids the ropes.....they'll listen that way.

County Fair Lesson #10 :  During the hustle and bustle throughout the week, take a moment to stop, look, listen and enjoy the scene.  Great memories are being created.

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Sonoma Marin Fair Appreciation Dinner

Last night we were running late to attend the Sonoma-Marin Fair Appreciation Dinner at the fairgrounds.  We had our bi-monthly vet appointment for the dairy cows scheduled, which needs to happen when milking is just about finished at the end of the day.  But that's the life of a dairyman {and family}, we never make it in time for appetizer hour and barely make in time for dinner many times.  But we made it, with food left to spare.

The Fair Appreciation Dinner is put on by the board members {one of the many Boards Dominic sits on} to thank the many volunteers that work leading up to and during the Sonoma-Marin Fair. There were around 250 people in attendance.

Here, Jeff James, President of Sonoma-Marin Fair and local winery owner - James Family Cellars, calls up and hands out a recognition award to the committee that organized Farmers Day at the fair.

CEO of Sonoma Marin Fair, Pat, thanks the crowd.
















Oh and the dinner that was served to all 250 people in attendance was yummy BBQ chicken, macaroni salad , green salad, and the beans must have been really good because they were all gone by the time we got there.

A local 4H club was gaining some community service points by helping at the event.  They cleaned up tables, served ice cream sandwiches for dessert and helped to take down decorations at the end of the event.

Bryce and Paige were eager to help as well.  Here, they were helping Daddy hand out some recognition pins.

Paige immediately befriended all the 4H girls and asked to tag along with them offering to help with anything she could.

They gave away a good amount of raffle prizes after dinner.  Both Paige and Bryce wanted to help with that as well.

While they were busy working, I was checking the score of the Giants game on my new Droid.....love this thing!  But poor Giants....they did not fare well.  Hopefully they'll work it out for Saturday's game.

We came away from the evening with a bottle of some award winning wine.

Maybe we'll drink it tonight, at home on this rainy night, in front of a roaring fire.

Happy Friday!  Cheers!
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Pig Scramble

As most of you know, the kids and I spent three entire, long days at our local country fair while Dominic was away on his Scotland trip.  Saturday was Farmer's Day where there were all kinds of activities to participate in such as team penning, wild cow milking, calf scramble, boot scramble, egg toss, etc.  Bryce was able to participate in the pig scramble and the boot scramble. 

The pig scramble is where little piggies are brought into the arena and let loose and all the kids try their hardest to catch one of them, either by the leg or the entire body.  It is hysterical to watch this event.

Anticipation before the piggies are let out....

Some of the pigs are let out....

And, they're off and running and very determined.....

Bryce is trying hard to catch up to this piggy....

Cousin, Cam is after one....

Well, in the end Bryce did not catch a pig but his cousin Cameron did.  The prize was a $5 bill and a ribbon.

After the Farmer's Day activities we walked back to the motor home (camp) and had some snacks....

Cam's dad, Jim, slicing up some sausage....

Kettle chips and french onion dip.....Oh SO GOOD!

Low fat cream cheese on whole grain crackers topped with Tastefully Simple's Pomegranate Chipotle Sauce (which has a kick to it)....my favorite!  Always good to finish off a long day with some tasty food and drink :)

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From Teats to Feet & the Ugliest Dog!

As most of you know from my previous posts, it's fair time in our area.  And I hope I'm not boring you with all the photos I take, but I know I like to check out photos of different areas and events happening around the U.S. so I hope you do as well.

The Sonoma-Marin Fair is located in Petaluma, CA.  I really like it because  A) I grew up going to this fair,

B) It's a small fair  and  C) There's a lot of agriculture involved and shown in this fair, which really gives people an up-close view of farm animals and farming.

I love all the hands-on exhibits you can participate in.  At this fair, they are all  included with the price of admission. 

Paige is milking, or trying to milk this life size Holstein cow.  These two teats must be dry, let's try the other side.........

Mission accomplished.

In the same area, you can also try to rope a steer from sitting atop a saddle, play dress up in gold rush attire and .......

discover gold!

Paige, Bryce, Cam and Leila are panning for gold.

Bryce found a nugget.  Which he can then take to the 'General Store' and buy a Tootsie roll or two.

After all the Tootsie rolls were bought and eaten, it was time for an ice cream break.  I think this booth is the busiest booth at the fair.  Clover serves up FREE vanilla ice cream cones every day from 1 - 4 p.m. 

We sat in on the Holstein show for a little while.  Our friend, Frankie is showing her Holstein.

Over at the rabbit and cavie barn, our friend Megan shows Paige how she shows her rabbit.  Look at how still this rabbit lays in Megan's hands.  Megan is an expert rabbit handler.

They also have the Cutest petting zoo you can visit for no extra cost as well!

Loved this little goat!

I think Paige wanted to curl up and take a nap with these girls.

Where else can you go and pet a deer? 

Crazy hairdo on this one.

And because the $7, 5 minute pony ride is better than the free horse ride Paige can get at home, her Godmother, Devi bought her a couple rides.  Thanks Devi!

While we were petting animals and riding ponies, Bryce was peddling a tractor pull competition.

And of course no fair is complete without the carnival portion of it.  We rode a few rides.

It was nice having Devi with us.....I made the poor thing go on all the rides with my kids.

(I don't think she minded though)

Paige almost hurled on the tea cup ride, although you can't tell from this photo.

And after a VERY LONG day, it always feels good to get your feet rubbed, or your entire body.

Bryce could have kept feeding the Jiggle Foot machine quarters ALL day. 

He was obsessed.

I can't say that I blame him!

Friday night is also the night the 22nd annual Ugliest Dog Contest was held at the fair.  We missed it but here's the winner:

Princess Abby ~ a 4 year old, recently rescued, Chihuahua mix.

Her curved back and ever-squinting left eye won her the title and $1,000 dollars!  I think she's a cutie :)

Abby taking her red carpet victory walk.....

Abby's photo by Associated Press

I hope you get a chance to visit your own local fair :)

Happy Saturday!

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