PCF 2011!

I'm at the tail end of the eighth round trip to the Fairgrounds today, and friends, the Fair has begun! For anyone who has not had the privilege of attending a county fair, each year, I share the doin's of the best entertainment country living has to offer.
We have moved in the stuff- tack trunks, bales of shaving, hay and straw, manure forks, buckets and rakes, water buckets, feed buckets, feed, tack, brushes, clippers, stands, and animals- Mikey the horse, Evelyn and Eleanor the yearling ewes, two hens and two ducks.
The traditional Thursday- afternoon -of -the -fair downpour arrived several days early this year, around 5 p.m. We were in the horse barns, with all doors and windows battened down and the rain coming down through the roof all around. We found a dry-ish spot and waited it out. Now, the fairgrounds are an amusement park ride in themselves, with even my huge truck in four wheel drive sliding around like a skid steer. (Hmmm, is that something non-coun'ry people have heard of?)
The day was "pandelirium" with horse racing going on and the arrival of all the 4-H'ers, projects and families, as well as carnies, vendors and fried food trailers galore. All this through the one gate the grounds committee remembered to open. I had pulled my rig in to the horse barns in the morning to unload the first round of "stuff", only to find myself blocked in , so had to go forth into the unknown, ending up driving a slalom course through 100 years of tractors.
The combines began arriving today as well. These are machines once used for harvesting, now being used for the local happening called the Combine Derby. This is a demolition derby using combines. Truly. This is one of the combines, an entrant from the Hines farm. Elmer Hines always has at least one combine in the derby.

On the side, in orange paint is the sentiment "You will be missed Linda". I can only hope that this is because Linda decided not to drive in the Combine Derby this year. But, perhaps Linda was a real fan of the Combine Derby, and is no longer with us. In any case, currently, my vote is for Linda's combine to shred in the Derby! And, I can only hope that when I'm gone, I get a shout out in dayglo orange too.
Directly after the downpour, the Games began. Members on our club formed teams and competed against teams from other clubs in games. There were traditional games, like the egg toss and the tug-o-war, but also more faircentric contests like milk chugging and hay bale tossing. All our team members conducted themselves with good sportsmanship and ferocious competition. Let me tell you, no one else stood a chance in milk chugging.
So now, with things in place, and one trip back to the camper remaining before the clock strikes midnight and I can recharge for the first day of showing tomorrow.
Horse show and dog show are up first!

How many Cates does it take to screw in a light bulb?  If there isn't a ladder, just find a monkey.

Mikey actually standing still! Mostly because he was riveted by the horses racing by in the left of the photo. Soon he will begin cantering in frantic circles hoping to join in.....