Souvenirs for Sale. Lots of Route 66 and red, white and blue.
The State Fair is two different worlds. There is the midway, the amusement rides and games, and everything fried – what most visitors come to enjoy. And then there are all the animal barns where cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep and more are groomed and shown. I didn't make it everywhere – but I tried to capture both worlds.
Cleaned and Trimmed. To show the animals, they were made to look their best. For sheep -- they were washed and sheered. Not all of them liked it.Horses Are So Big. There were all kinds of horses and they were shown in different ways. This horse was being driven by kids up to 14 (with some adult coaching). Shower time. Goats get some shower time too.Denied their dignity. Some of the sheep stood quietly while being sheered but some of them had to be more constrained. I felt like this one was sending me a message to get them out of there.The Horse Barns. There is a lot of down time for the folks showing the animals. Some of the kids were set up on chairs and sleeping blankets right next to some of the animals. Since the horses were in stalls of their own -- their owners set up outside.Do it just like at home. I had a a fun time watching this woman try to get the goat into the cart. I have a whole series of photos. First, she got in and tried to urge the goat to join here. Then she tried this -- pulling the goat up with her. Then she go fully out of the cart and pulled the goal up then joined it to drive off. All the while shew as talking to the goat - telling it get it, just like it does at home. The Butter Cow Since 1922. Since the cow is made of butter -- it has to be kept in refrigerated case, and you had to line up to get your chance to see it. Butter udderly detailed. Sorry about the pun, but who would have thought that you could sculpture butter which such detail. Old School Korndogs. They say they have been around since 1966, and they definitely had the longest lines.Fried What? Everything at the State Fair is fried -- including twinkies, key lime pie, and brownies!Dipped in Cheese. In addition to everything being fried, I think everything was also dipped in cheese. The Midway. Slide Down 66. This was the centennial of Route 66 which runs from Chicago to LA through Springfield. Route 66 was everyone at the Fair including here at the entrance to the fairgrounds.
