County fairs

[CloeysRabbitRanch]

Well today is my county fair! I'm showing 4 breeding rabbits when is everyone else's county fairs?

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Well, Up here in SNOW COUNTRY-- County fairs tend to be in the late summer and early fall.
the ones I know of in Ohio--

Ashtabula and Cuyahoga have theirs the same week in August. The week before is Medina (IIRC) the week after is Lake county. Geauga Cunty fair is the last week in August beginning of September, is one week, and Always ends on Labor day. Trumbull County starts the local fair season, I believe the same week as Crawford County in Pa. After Geauga, there is the Albion Area Fair in Pa-- I think That fair is in Erie County, and is a second fair\

the Ohio State fair is EARLY August

The Alaska State Fair is in September-- never noticed a county fair when I lived there.

Many fairs seem to be nothing but 'carnivals'-- they are growing away from the purpose-- which is to celebrate and show of agriculture- more displays of new cars than of new farm equipment, video arcades rather than Pie eating contests.... Vendors selling Avon or Jordache rather than Hand made quilts..

 

[SatinsRule]

August and September. They're not well attended, either. Probably has to do with the ordeal of having to leave rabbits on display for a week so that people can feed them cotton candy, corn dogs, and funnel cakes, as well as having to make repeated, daily trips to the fairgrounds to ensure they're getting their regular diet and plenty of water.

County fairs around here used to make sense. It was a one-day event with carrying cages, and the premiums were pretty substantial. Those days are gone.

 

[JessicaR]

Our fair is at the end of July. I always wished they would have it a little later since every year it is HOT!! Usually in the 90's. I think it should be in late September/early October

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

In Ohio, and I think other states as well, no two county fairs can be held at the same time in neighboring counties. So, If a border is shared, the counties have to have separate fair dates.

Fairs, long ago, highlighted Agriculture. Any county that has an Extension office in it MUST hold an agricultural fair-- that is one of the requirements for the Land Grant colleges that must be met for funding.

And yes, these week long carnivals really should be cut down to say, three days-- open on Friday, and shut down on Sunday evening.

I got a decent education about
"Monday" fairs Tuesday fairs, and weekend fairs. I know what an 'overnight fair' is-- and beleive me, the agricultural exhibitors don;t like the week long stuff, AT ALL Off to get some kids on the bus!!!

 

[jessie15273]

Im the Ambassador for our County Fair! (the title Queen excluded guys) Our county fair is always the last week in july. Around here the county fairs are pretty much just 4-H Fairs. They have been talking about moving our fairs back, but all of us with market pigs are sort of against that... The pigs are just to darned big by the fair, and its not like you can put a hog on a diet.
I Show goats, pigs, sheep and rabbits at the fair. Its a long week but its alway great, ours is open to the public wednesday-sunday, but you get there tuesday to drop off all you animals, we camp there in a camper so it isnt as bad.

 

[skysthelimit]

I haven't gone yet, usually I'm back in school. I will not let any of my animals stay overnight, and driving back and forth every day to check on them is too much. I am going to try to make it a point to make it to the Cuyahoga Co Fair during the weekend.

 

[Mickey328]

Around here the State and County fairs are usually between July and Sept. We used to go to the county fairs every couple of years or so, but now that we have rabbits and chickens, we'll go more often...and with a specific purpose, LOL

Good luck with your buns...hope you bring home prizes!

 

[Rexisbest]

Ours starts this Thursday and lasts almost 2 weeks as it is the state fair, thankfully the rabbits are checked in on Wed and get to leave on Monday. I would never let them stay away that long!

 

[GatewayHomestead]

Our fair used to be mid-July but it was moved to June. When I was in FFA, I showed Pigs, Goats, Sheep, Cattle and Rabbits as far as livestock goes. We were also able to show plants and our own crafts made of wood/metal which I did. Our fair is open to the public Wed-Sunday, it used to be Tuesday-Sunday. Everyone hauls in on Sunday except for beef cattle, and the first show day is Tuesday, kicking off with pigs and goats. Sheep are Wednesday, beef cattle & rabbits (Carrier show) are Thursday, with the replacement heifer and rabbit auction that night, Master Showmanship is Friday afternoon, and the Market Animals auction is Saturday. I'm not sure what day the dairy cattle show is. It was always hard showing pigs and goats on the same day. We always had to run back and forth between barns.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

I am going to try to make it a point to make it to the Cuyahoga Co Fair during the weekend.

Sky- the Cuyahoga County Fair has a HUGE rabbit/cavy barn-- the next larger size I have seen is at Medina-- that barn has 4 'wings' to it! This barn was built as a replacement for a barn where a LOT of rabbits died one year due to heat issues. it is now super well ventilated And they have 4H as well as Regular competitions. Then-- closer to me-- the Albion Area Fair, located near Erie, Pa. has another large rabbit/cavy barn-- but, the animals are cooped for a week, both 4H and regular shows...

I was not able to get into the rabbit barns at Geauga due to the distance involved between the pony ride set-up and the Agricultural barn area. Geauga's barns are locked pretty tight during non-fair hours,, and that was the only time available for me to go look at livestock exhibits... Lorain county fair-- I did not like the footing in the barns-- Don't know if the drainage issues have been corrected. Ashtabula county fair- is 4H animals only-- and a real tight fit, even for able-bodied onlookers.

 

[SatinsRule]

Another issue at many county or state fair shows is cleanliness. It may not seem like much, but lose a prime rabbit to some transmitted illness that they picked up from an uncleaned display pen or show table just once and it will change your perspective.

 

[Shelbers91]

The Big Butler Fair here in western PA always runs through the 4th of July. 9 day fair and the buns have to be there all 9 days.

I always go. The only reason I really go is for the agriculture. My boyfriend goes for the games and stuff. We never ride anything though. So I go with him to play games then he comes with me to look at horses, cattle, rabbits hens goats sheep pigs and cocks. He doesn't go in the cock barn though cuz it gives him a headache lol I go in and love the rush of cockadoodledoos! Then when one does it in my ear I get to turn to it and be like " Well my goodness!! Someone's outspoken. What a beautiful rooster you are! And such mighty fine spikes!" Teehee I love visiting the animals!