Meet Me at the Fair - The Isle of Wight County Fair

~we are lucky to live only ten minutes from the fairgrounds~

This past weekend was the annual Isle of Wight County Fair.  We always love to go and walk around the fairgrounds, eat fair food, look at the baked goods and crafts and watch the animal judging.    It was a gorgeous sunny fall day on Saturday, so we decided to pay a visit to the fairgrounds.

~New Holland blue tractors are my favorites~

As we parked and started walking towards the tents, we could already feel the excitement building, hear roosters crowing and smell all the fried food.  But nothing screams 'country fair' louder than a row of tractors!

~4-H goat judging~

We live in the heart of southeastern Virginia farm country, so 4-H is alive and well and it's refreshing to see a new generation so passionate about raising animals. 

~a future goat keeper maybe?~

Of course the goats were loving all the attention from kids and adults alike while they were waiting to be judged.

~honestly the goats act more like dogs than livestock~

We spent the longest time in the goat tent. They are just SO darned cute and they love attention.

Although from what I have heard about goats, they are a lot more fun when they are someone else's because they will eat everything in sight, escape from where ever you try and contain them and do always want attention.

~what a cutie!~

I have to admit that the miniature (or baby?) cows were really cute too. Their eyes are just SO expressive.

~young love~

Not all the 'kids' were interested in the animals, but I'm sure these two will still leave with some fond memories of the fair!

~someone was busy this summer~

We left the livestock tents and visited the craft tent which was chock full of knit and crocheted items, candles, soap, honey, baked goods, canned goods and a host of other country items.

~such an eye-appealing display~

The judging had already been done on the jams, jellies, preserves and other canned goods.  Since I have just in the past week taken a stab at trying canning preserves, I can fully appreciate the work that goes into this.

~I would have loved to take one of these beauties home~

The quilt competition is always one of my favorites.  There were so many beautiful entries as usual, so the judges' had their work cut out for them.  

After making our way through the crafts, we went back outside to work our way past the various vendors selling food.

~fried Oreos ? No thank you!~

Although the funnel cakes smelled good, as did the pulled pork BBQ, we passed on the food and settled on just splitting a cup of fresh-squeezed lemonade. 

Although I do love fried green tomatoes, the fried Oreos, Rice Crispies and Twinkies really weren't all that appealing!

~what a gorgeous guy this is!~

Finally it was time for my favorite part - the poultry tent.  We had been listening to the roosters crowing for the better part of the afternoon anyway, so there was no mistaking where they were.

I know I enjoyed walking the rows of rooster cages more than my husband, but even he admitted that some of the roosters were mighty impressive.

~this was a local 4-H clubs' selection of hens~

~I couldn't resist getting a closer look at the ducks~

In addition to the roosters (and every breed from the tiny Serama to the huge Jersey Giant and everything in between was represented), there were hens, turkeys, geese, and ducks.

The fair organizers had done a great job of decorating the rows of cages with bales of straw, pumpkins, gourds and mums.

Of course I loved looking at all the ducks also.  I was really interested in these two gorgeous brown ducks with dark gray heads but they were already sold.

~the Grand Champion, a white cochin rooster~

Eventually we arrived at the final exhibition - the Grand Champion of the entire fair.  To my sheer delight it was a rooster! This gorgeous white cochin won the purple ribbon.

My first thought after admiring him was to wonder how his owners keep him that clean and white. He was absolutely gorgeous and looked to be reveling in his victory!

We had a wonderful time at the fair, as always.  It's so great to feel a part of the local farming community.  We make it a point to go each year to the local fair and sometimes make it up to Richmond for the State Fair also.

This fall check to see if there is a country fair near you. Even many urban areas are starting to hold their own fairs to give city and suburban kids a chance to experience at least an afternoon of the 'country life'.

If you can't find a local fair, visit Local Hens online. You can type in your zip code to find local farms and their contact information. Some might let you come and take a 'farm field trip' and let your kids see the chickens and other animals they raise, as well as purchase eggs and other fresh local products.  And now for the giveaway!

Congratulations to JAIME HEILMAN for winning the
BEST OF SHOW SHAMPOO KIT GIVEAWAY 

sponsored by The Egg Carton Store

The Best of Show kit contains an array of products that will allow your birds to show at their very best, producing Grand Champion chickens and turkeys in A.P.A., A.B.A and State Fair competitions and 4-H Poultry Shows. 

Included in a convenient carrying case is:

“Poultry Protector (4 oz.) – Step 1

“Shampoo” (4 oz.) – Step 2

“Vinegar” (8 oz.) – Step 3

“Glycerin” (4 oz.) – Step 4

Comb Reddening (2.5 oz.)

Step-by-step Instructions and Tips Guide

Product Review: The Egg Carton Store sent me a bottle of the shampoo to try.  I don't generally bathe my hens, but the mud in the run has been awful lately and my feathered-footed hens - the cochins, marans and faverolles - are having a hard time keeping their feet clean. I didn't subject any of them to a full bath but I did wash some feet  and they didn't seem to mind at all.  The shampoo did a really nice job at getting their feet clean.  Now if they would only STAY that way!

This post is featured here: Our Little Coop,  I Gotta Try That, Titus 2sDays, Teach me Tuesdays, Cowgirl Up! and Crafty Moms Share.

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