County Fair

This morning we put on our cowboy hats and mosey-ed on down to the Nevada County Fair. We saw the cows and the pigs and the goats and the horses and the rides and the food and ever so many other wonders. I really enjoy the county fair, but I must admit it is a tad bit hokey. This year's theme was "Barn Yard Mardi Gras" so there were Mardi Gras masks and beads all around. Livestock shit and shiny plastic beads... yeah. Not exactly Venezia. Although, come to think of it, Venice rather smells like waste product much of the year (tepid water full of... well... yucky-ness... and all of it festering) so maybe it was more appropriate than many realize.

Some highlights -
We took in a spot of pigmy goat judging and I was able to glean a few minimal points on what one looks for in a good pygmy goat. Having a traditional pygmy goat shape to one's goat's head is considered a good point, as are strong legs, strong development between the shoulders and even development all over.

We also talked to a nice young man who was lounging upon his pig as if it were an easy chair (a lot of the pig owners were cuddling with their pigs in this way.) As we were observing this pig and that pig he called out to us, "Wanna see my pig?" "Sure," said we and proceeded to examine his pig in a very amature fashion. We learned that his pig was about 6 months old, that he had raised two this year but you can only enter one (the less worthy of prize contending will be eaten by his family.) He also told us stuff about where he bought the pigling, what he fed it, how much he fed it (6 pds a day), how much the food costs and what he can expect to get for his pig. He's hoping for $5/pound (last year his pig got $5.50/lb) and at 271 pounds that's a good deal of money. He does have to pay back his mom for some of the feed and he put a good deal of money into the endeavor (not to mention a whole ton of work for the last six months) but he'll clear enough to add to both his car and college funds. Overall he seemed like a nice kid and I hope he gets a good price for his pig. I almost want to go to the pig auction tomorrow to see how he does.

We also saw some lovely little horsies - Haflingers they were called - and some big-daddy Shire horsies that weigh about 2,000 pounds each. There seems to be a distinct Hobbit theme running through the selection of horses we took in (Hobbits being called "Haflings" and living in the "Shire.")

Unfortunately we couldn't seem to find the Bunny Hurdles. It was at noon and we planned our time at the fair around it but we couldn't seem to find the arena where the bunny hurdles were taking place. Luckily I was consoled on our way out when I looked toward the petting zoo and saw a ZEBRA! YES, A ZEBRA! What a zebra is doing in the Nevada County Fair petting zoo is beyond me, but I don't like to question unexplained gifts from the gods. I happen to have a slight (okay fairly dominating) infatuation with zebras and immediately darted off like a wayward toddler without letting anyone know where I was going or checking to see where my party might be. It worked out okay though and I ended up leaving the fair a VERY happy camper because of my zebra encounter.