10 Reasons to Visit Your County Fair
The County Fair
Summer means one thing to me - a week at the county fair! I take three days off of work and spend five days at our county fair. We take our horses and spend most of our time in the horse barn but there's so much more to do and see at the County Fair. When I was younger, the Midway was my favorite part of the fair because we would buy the unlimited wristbands but now there's other things that I enjoy just as much. Everyone can find something that they enjoy. There's rides, animals, food, games, entertainment and so much more. What else could you ask for? It only goes for a few days and then it's gone so why not enjoy it while you can? Support this long time American favorite to ensure your county has one for years to come.
The Number One Reason
The ANIMALS
4-H kids and animals are a perfect match. From little tiny hamsters and bunnies all the way to steers and horses, you will see a responsible young exhibitor taking great care of their animals. The younger kids are happy to be showing their pets but many of the older teens pick out an animal that is going to earn them some money at the auction. They have learned which characteristics to look for and which to avoid when picking out an animal.
#2 The FOOD
Funnel cakes, ice cream, and fried anything you can imagine - Oreos, butter, onions, cheese curds, and even pickle slices. Everywhere you turn around, there's more food being offered, all at exorborant prices. A family size french fries smothered in cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits will set you back $10.00 but they are so worth it. Delicious!
Were you in 4-H when you were a kid?
I didn't know about 4-H when I was a kid but I'm finding lots of people who were in it. If you were, what projects did you do? Did you enjoy it?
I wish I had known about 4-H when my older kids were younger. They would have loved all of the projects that come along with being in 4-H. I didn't find out about it until I met a friend with horses. Her family was big into showing and she let us use one of their horses for the year. It introduced us to 4-H and we've loved it ever since.
Were you in 4-H?
#3 - The 4-H Projects
It's absolutely amazing how talented the young people in 4-H are. You will walk past many projects and think, "If this project was done by a child, what will this same child be able to accomplish when they are an adult?" There's so many things for them to try in 4-H, the possibilities are endless. Some of the projects include cake decorating, scrapbooking, foods, animals, quilting, archery, photography, rocketry, shooting sports, biking, hiking, plants, crocheting, trains, short stories, furniture making, woodburning, computers, personal finance, and the list goes on and on. There are so many to choose from and definitely something for all kids, everywhere. You don't have to live on a farm to participate in 4-H.
#4 - The RIDES
Most county fairs feature a midway where you can enjoy many rides. There's usually a small child area where they have the merry-go-round, little ride on trucks, and flying elephants.
Then you move to the next section and there is the little roller coaster and bumper cars.
Lastly is the big rides. My all time favorite ride is the Tilt-A-Whirl. Since I was a small child, I've been crazy for all that spinning!!
Which Ride is Better?
Would you rather be whirling around at high speed on the Orbitor or would you rather be hanging upside down on the Ring of Fire?
Upside Down or Spinning Around?
#5 - Horse Shows
State Qualifying Horse Show
The 4-H state qualifying shows are held at the county fairs. The kids must get a blue ribbon to qualify for state. They usually give 2 blues for each class. The qualifying classes are western, english, showmanship, and trail.
Draft Horses are a big hit!
Some fairs are big enough and have the facilities to host draft horses. These horses are huge and all their equipment is huge. Not all counties are equipped to handle such massive animals so if you live in one of them that has them, be sure to watch and support the teams before they are gone. They're fascinating to watch.
#6 - All You Can Drink Milk
This is one of my favorite places at the fair - The All You Can Drink Milk Tent. Everything can be so expensive at the fair so when you really need something to eat or drink and you're down to your last few bucks and can't afford anything else, milk does the trick!! It's ice cold so it quenches your thirst and fills you up if you're getting hungry.
Image Credit: JenwithFlash
White Milk or Chocolate Milk
Which do you prefer?
#7 - Showman of Showmanship Contest
The Showman of Showmanship Contest is a competition between the champion showmen from each of the animal groups. The animals that they have to show are a horse, a goat, a steer, a dairy cow, a pig, and a sheep. It can be quite challenging, especially with the bigger animals. The winner gets a belt buckle, a gift card, and a great big sense of accomplishment.
#8 - The Tiger Show
The tigers drew a huge crowd. They were beautiful big cats who performed many tricks for all the people. It was a great show for the whole family!
After the show, they would have the tiger stand up in the cage and you could have the kids stand in front of it for a picture. The tiger was so tall! You could either pay for one of their pictures or you could use your own camera. It was really nice. The kids really enjoyed watching the show.
Watching the Tigers Perform
The announcer gives lots of information about these tigers and tigers in general. Then you get to see the tigers do some nice little tricks like walking across a pole and standing on the side of the cage! It was a very good show!
#9 - The Demolition Derby
The demolition derby is many a fan's favorite. Cars and trucks brought together to smash each other up. The last car that is still moving is declared the winner. Kids and adults alike enjoy the show. This year at our fair they added a new twist. Fair goers could buy a raffle ticket for a chance to drive a mini van in the demolition. This year's raffle winner came in second place.
Demolition Derbies At the Fair
The Demolition Derby is one of the biggest draws at our county fair. People come from all over to watch the derby and the tractor pulls. There's a few more parts to the derby but if you're still not sure what to expect, check out this video.
There's so many fun things to do at the fair that I couldn't narrow it down to just one!! There are stages full of live bands, vendors handing out lots of freebies, camel rides, pony rides, games, 4-H bingo, auctions, and so much more!
What is your favorite thing to do at the County Fair?
Not all county fairs are created equally. Does your city put a lot of effort into it or is it nothing more than vendors? Do they have good bands or the cheapest ones they can find?