Visit To A County Fair (1979)

[Music] A county fair is fun to visit. Everything is so colorful and exciting. There's so much to see and so many things to do. You can spend a whole day at the fair. County fairs started long ago when farmers would gather together to show off their best crops, livestock, and homemade goods. They competed for prizes and recognition. Today, it's only a little different. The vegetables and other homemade goods are still entered in competition and attract a lot of visitors. Derek, Lisa, and Tom have come to see the displays of home canned jams and other goods made by 4 members. Although they are good to look at, Tom thinks they would taste better. Look at all the different kinds of honey. Light, dark, honey and combs, and honey bears. There's even a display of live bees busy making more honey right there. [Music] Let's go have a look at some of the livestock. Ha! Everybody's getting a bath. It must be almost time for the judging. Each owner is very careful about washing and brushing the animals hair shining clean. The sheep's wool is cleaned and fluffed up with a special kind of comb. This is called currying. Many of the animals were raised as part of a 4 project. This means the children must feed and care for them properly so they will grow as big and look as good as possible. It's a lot of hard work, but now it's nearly showtime and all the work will soon be rewarded. It'll take a long time to give away all those ribbons. Right now, Holstein calavs are being judged. These heers will grow up to become dairy cows. So, the judge looks at each calf for features that may mean more milk production. Size, shape, posture, color, build. Beef cattle are judged in the same way, but the standards of perfection are different. Each animal is awarded points, and the best score wins. Here, more cattle are being read for judging. Although they are bigger, they get the same careful preparation. They are brushed or curried to make them look bigger. Their feet are sprayed to keep the flies away so they will stand still during the judging. It's just like a beauty contest. They all line up for the judge. He looks them over carefully for size, weight, shape, posture, and other standards of perfection. Points are awarded. A decision is made. The junior champion. It has taken a long time and a lot of hard work to raise this prize-winning steer from a little calf, but now it has paid off. There are many other kinds of animals displayed and judged at the fair. This type of chicken is bred for meat production rather than egg laying. Its size, shape, and color are right for a winner. Its owner has taken good care of it. The judge awards a blue ribbon, meaning it meets the standards of perfection for this category. Rabbits are next. They are also being raised for meat. So, the judge looks for the best size and shape. [Music] Very good work. Another blue ribbon. These sheep have covers on them to keep their fluffed and curried coats clean until judging time. It often takes several hours to judge the sheep. They are bred for both wool and meat production, so they must be judged on both. Size and shape are important, as well as color and thickness of wool. [Music] The 4 boys and girls learn a lot about how to raise better animals each year. They keep the best animals to be the parents of the new stock for next year, and they may sell the others. Even though they are away from home, the constant care goes on. Horses must be exercised and the barns cleaned out regularly. The fair lasts a week or sometimes more, so the owners come to stay with their animals at the fairgrounds. This goat, like the dairy cows, must be milked twice a day. Some of the milk will be fed to the young goats, and the bystanders will also get to try some. The horses probably receive the most attention of all. This is the real beauty contest. Nothing is overlooked that might make a winner. And as you can see, almost anything goes. Here they are. Not a hair is out of place. But this owner can't help worrying a bit. There are many events and the judges are watching everything. Size, shape, posture, coloration, and movements. There are certainly some smartlooking ponies here. And the choice won't be easy. What a thrill to receive the championship. Even a second place ribbon makes this owner proud. >> Over here is the largest class of horses, the draft horses. Draft horses were used to pull wagons and heavy loads many years ago. But today, they're not used much for that because farmers use tractors and trucks instead. [Music] At the fair, it's just like old times as they're hitched up again just to show how it used to be. In spite of their size, they are quite gentle and the children love to pet them. This Clydesdale looks very sharp in his harness and he's anxious to get started. [Music] Here they come. The drivers are judged on their costumes and the harness and how they make the horses prance. The judges make a decision. Next will be the teams and wagons. Here, the drivers are judged on their time and skill in maneuvering the wagons. They must work fast but carefully. Backing up this way is a lot harder than in a car or truck. The children have enjoyed every minute, and now they're off to see a different kind of fun. [Music] The merrygoround is pretty with all the lights and colored horses. [Music] It's all over much too quickly. But now they're ready to try something else. This one is just like a real helicopter. [Music] The octopus ride is bigger and wilder. Hang on tight. [Music] Time out for a rest. I think cotton candy is a special treat after they've had more nutritious snacks. [Music] Here's another ride. The children are ready to try this one by themselves. [Music] And mom is just as glad to watch. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh, Derek won. Hooray. He gets a prize, too. But it's not a blue ribbon. >> Now it's Tom's turn at the baseball throw. >> All down. He lets Lisa have his prize. It's almost as big as she is. Well, it's been a full and exciting day at the fair, but now it's time to go home. A county fair is fun to visit, so you can be sure they'll all be back again next year. And they'd like you to come along, too. [Music]