the Harney County Fair 9/4/12

   We went out to the fairgrounds in Burns today.  Actually, we were there yesterday painting the walls and floor of the wooden booth that the refuge rents every year.  Today we were there again to set up the display for this year. 


   It is also the first official day of the Harney County Fair for 2012.  It is set up day for the booths, the midway, and the food booths.  It is also judging day for 4H and FFA which means that the area was filled with healthy and well groomed anaimals of all types.  Over here was a girl running with her sheep ("It's a male you know.")  Over there are cattle being lead into their stalls.  The dog event was just getting over as we were setting up.  The most exotic breed I saw were five whippets owned by the same lady.  It was mostly herding dogs and for good reason.  This is ranching country.  Cows, sheep, hay and alfalfa if they can irrigate are their products.


   The fair is the typical rural fair.  It doesn't change much each year.  R and I went two years ago and from what I could see, it looked the same.  In addition to the animal judging, the main events are a rodeo and horse racing.  The rodeo fills the stands and I imagine the racing does too.  There is not that much to do around here.  As an example the local theater has sign on it marque, " Closed for the Fair".


    This year is the 150 anniversary of the Homestead Act of 1862.   The theme of the booth decoration this year was based on that.  We brought out items from the ranch to make the area look good.  And it does not look too bad.  The interesting thing about the docorations, we were instrumental in many of them.  The trunk was ours, as was the rocking chair.  I made the table out of old lumber that I found on the ranch.  Looking at the picture of the booth makes me smile.