Photo courtesy the Orange County Fair
athirst shoat hurl themselves on their style to the trough during a race at the Orange County Fair .
Urban farming has its limit . It ’s rare an urban farmer has enough elbow room for to all the different kinds ofcrittersyou would typically see on a farm . So what can we do about it ? Go to the county fair for a farm animal fix !
This preceding weekend , I endure to the Orange County Fair , considered one of the top fairs in California . The fairgrounds are locate in one of the most populated areas of Southern California , and are packed with people during the month - long just .
My husband and some Quaker wanted to spoil in the fair ’s many culinary delights ( deeply - fry butter and chocolate report bacon — yum ! ) , and browse through the many buildings of clobber ( the Carnival of Products was a fussy fave ) . But I want to go for one reason only : the animals .
Fortunately for me , our group ’s first stop at the fair was the Centennial Farm . The four - acre farm resides at the fairground twelvemonth - round , but during just clock time , 4 - H and FFH member fill the b with their project creature . cow , sheep , bull , goats , lapin , oxen , anddonkeysare all over the space .
Although I missed the parturition of shote that was reportedly scheduled to take property , I did get to savour in the presence of a variety of animals I do n’t usually get to see . We terminate and petted the huge American Yorkshire pigs , and marvel at how petty hair they have . It was like pet the head of a bald adult male .
In pig bed mode , we decided to go see the pig bed raceway . It was severe to get a smear where we could see the action . Apparently , watch oinkers run away around a U - mold path is a popular interest with fairgoers . In between people ’s heads , I did see a few of the races of these “ Alaskan ” pigs , which actually see more like American Yorkshire piglets to me . The herd roared as four pigs at a fourth dimension would run through the track , negotiating a couple of hurdles , all so they could get to a trough at food at the end .
Next on the list for viewing were a couple of huge oxen . I never really understand the difference of opinion between a cow and an wild ox until I saw these guys . They are much bigger than cows . Their poop is much full-grown , too . It was amusing to see the bunch of city slickers clear out at lightning speed when one of the cattle lifted his tail and began to relieve himself . Judging by the giggles and jeers , not too many people in Orange Country have ever see a cow go to the bathroom .
After the cattle , we roll into the FFA sheep barn , where I come down in love with a impudently shorn sheep name Charlie . I cuddled with this little guy for a good five bit before I was drag on away by my friends .
Our last stop in the Centennial Farm was the snuggling zoo . I unremarkably hate petting zoos because the animals look miserable , but this one was different . People were not allowed inside the playpen with the animal , but could get to through the bar to pet them . The critters that were tired of being pet — or of rust the maize and shot mix being sell for usurious Price just for this role — could get by from the grasping hands .
It was here that I met my first baby yak . A brown , bleary little thing that looked like a miniature American buffalo ( of sorting ) , she give me a big osculation on the cheek when I bent down to coo over her . I was so touch on by this unwritten yakety-yak show of emotion , I could have pass home completely slaked . Of of course , my compadres require to see more of the fair , so I let them pull me along to the food trafficker and carnival rides . Apparently , they just do n’t get it .
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