Tag Archives: livestock

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Taking in a few shows.

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What’s a fair without a livestock show?

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Boring, that’s what.

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So we found ourselves in the bleachers for the dairy cow beauty pageant.

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My husband was raised on a dairy farm and provided a helpful running commentary.

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There were multiple categories and weight classes and we enjoyed a steady parade of bodacious bovines.

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A winner having her portrait taken.

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After that show, my husband headed for the pulling ring.

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This is my least favorite show because I hate to see the animals straining. Thankfully our timing was bad and it was over shortly after we arrived.

😉

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A boy and his oxen.

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The Fryeburg Fair, part eight…. baaa-d weather et al.

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As I mentioned earlier… the day we chose to go to the fair was overcast and gloomy, though you wouldn’t know it by the crowds.

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But as the day progressed it got darker and we were dodging raindrops by running in and out of livestock buildings.

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During a particular steady shower?

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Sheep.

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Some dressed in coats.

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The variety of wool was impressive and it was nice to find someone with curlier hair than mine for a change.

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But my favorites?

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The Jacobs with their ridiculously weird horns.

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They love a good scratch…

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But don’t tug on the headgear or you’ll get bitten.

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The little guys are so sweet.

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And while it may have been awful outside the building …

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It was dry and comfy under the big roof.

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Fryeburg Fair, part three… where I’m in cow heaven.

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Every agricultural fair in Maine has a few cows, but the Fryeburg Fair has multiple barns devoted to multiple breeds, varieties, colors and sizes.

For a cow lover like me, it’s blissful bovine heaven.

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Look at that beauty!

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Beef cows, dairy cows…

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Large cows that pull things…

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Gentle cows who enjoy a scratch.

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Seriously big ass impressive cows…

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Sweet baby cows.

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There’s even a barn filled with Oreo cookie cows.

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Cows!

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I not so subtly pointed out there were even cows for sale to my husband….

But the man kept right on walking.

😉

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Let’s go to the fair… cows! and horses and pigs.

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It shouldn’t come as any surprise that my favorite parts of the fair are the animals.

Have you kissed a cow today?

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I did.

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Cow!

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My husband grew up on a dairy farm.

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He gives good cow scratches.

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Moo!

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While I love cows, my husband is always impressed with the draft horses.

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I can’t even imagine what it must cost to feed these big boys.

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That’s a whole lotta horseflesh.

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And here are a few porkers.

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Just because.

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If you don’t have any plans today….

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Perhaps you’d like to hug a water buffalo.

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It’s free, and you have to admit the toddlers sure are cute.

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Of course inviting you to hug a calf and then directing you to the store to purchase a rump roast of his family is a bit rude….

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I hope no one tells this sweet little fellow Uncle Otto didn’t really go to Boca on vacation.

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*Gulp*

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The Great Goat Escape …. Update.

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Sadly, the goat is still on the loose.

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Updates are posted every few days on our town’s Facebook page.

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It’s become a bit of a hoot.

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Apparently this goat was given to the owners a few weeks ago and as soon as they opened the pen to transfer it to their yard… it ran off. They’ve tried putting out food, luring it with other goats and even set up a warm shelter near where it’s been spotted… but nothing works. It runs from everyone who tries to catch it.

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In 2020, this is what passes for hard news in my town.

Ya gotta love it.

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The great goat escape.

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Livestock run amok in my town…. as witnessed by a flurry of recent Facebook postings.

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Poor goat, he’s just lonesome.

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Goat tracking is a wonderful thing.

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Uh oh, now the law is involved.

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Apparently this isn’t a first for local law enforcement.

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Pie rewards. Ya gotta love it.

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Benny Hill music would be the perfect accompaniment to guard rail hopping goats.

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When your community is requesting goats in heat? You know things are about to get real.

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Goat Busters. Where do I sign up?

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Goats in tutus? Yes, please.

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If the goat shows up at our backyard buffet, I shall report back.

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Fun at the fair…. and balls.

30 Comments

 

We hadn’t been to the Topsham Fair in years, and after going the other day I remembered why.

Maine has some fabulous county fairs….. but this isn’t one of them.

With a $12 charge per person to get in? There should have been more… everything.

 

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We started with the livestock, because I do love me some critters.

 

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I got up close and personal with sheep….

 

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While the husband chatted up a cow.

 

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This cow was lying down.

 

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As was her owner…

 

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And it took all my willpower not to yell at him to drop his phone and learn how to spell her name properly.

 

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Sorry El….

 

 

This cow had a little speck of something on her nose…

 

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Which proved to be no problem.

 

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Yes, that’s her tongue. And she knew how to use it.

 

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Did you know…

 

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Cows can’t vomit?

I live to enlighten.

 

 

 

We saw ox, and horses.

 

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Some huge.

 

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Some small.

We saw pigs…

 

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With lots of baby pigs…

 

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And goats..

 

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With some pretty big…

 

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Sorry…. but holy crap!

 

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How do you walk with balls that big?

 

 

We strolled around looking for the chicken barn….

Only to discover there wasn’t one.

Very disappointing.

 

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And then we walked past the “Decorate a Bale of Hay” contest.

 

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Which… yeah.

 

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Was a bit odd.

 

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I temporarily lost the husband to some old rusty crap.

 

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And found him checking out some sweet old vehicles for sale.

 

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We meandered through the collection of carriages and sleighs which we always love…

 

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And found a cannon…

 

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With a strategically placed ball.

 

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In a sack.

Tell me someone doesn’t have a sense of humor….

 

 

We made the obligatory walk through the exhibition hall.

 

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But the Blue Ribbon rhubarb failed to thrill.

And aside from the carnival rides we didn’t ride and the roach coach junk food that we didn’t eat, that was it….

Until I spotted George.

 

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And fell in love.

 

 

I mean… look at him!

 

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George is an Emu.

 

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Homely…

 

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Humble..

 

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And despite the prehistoric raptor like gaze, quite friendly.

Here’s some riveting video of him drinking water.

 

 

And a little something closer up.

 

 

He’s over 6 foot tall, with coarse dense feathers.

Yes, we bonded…. and I petted him.

Totally worth the $12 admission price.

 

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