The Fair

 

When Clay's dad (who works for the state agriculture department) handed us our tickets to the State Fair, we were more than a little excited. It is one of our favorite annual traditions.

Here we are hickin' it up in 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 

 

All ready for the fair:

This lovely lady joined us too. It was fun to be part of her first ever state fair experience.

I'm pretty sure it didn't disappoint.

This year, they had a fun little farm village just for kids. It was so cute. They had a bunch of mini barns with activities in each one where the kid had to do a farm chore like shear a sheap, milk a cow and plant seeds. When they were done, they earned a pretend dollar to spend at a little store. Ellie loved handing her hard-earned dollar to the cashier in exchange for some "Cars" fruit snacks.

Here are our future FFA members. Camden is still getting used to the idea.

Then it was time for the rides. After the carousel, Ellie wanted to go in a fun house. Fun was a huge overstatement and a complete waste of our $3. We basically walked up some stairs then slid down a slide. I was laughing at how lame it was. But Ellie wanted to do it again, of course!

Little guy did a lot of this:

 

Haley and I had to pose by the Sideshow. So carnivalesque. Clay and I actually went into it a few years ago and were digusted by the real two headed cow, the albino turtle, etc.

It was actually pretty sad. Lots of mutated animals in inhumane conditions.

 

 

 

We had to hit the animal barns. The friendly goats are always a favorite.



 

All Haley wanted was a kiss.

 

The highlight of the fair for Ellie is by far the pony ride. I love that we have a picture of her pony-riding from the time she was not even 1 year old and that the tradition will continue until she is too big to ride a pony.

 

Love this not-so-little-anymore lady.

 

We had to take a shot of Clay by this sign, obviously.

Other fair highlights included our find-the-creepiest-carnie contest (sorry he's not pictured), checking out the produce contest and the live bee colony. If we had more time, we would have seen the butter sculpture and gotten a funnel cake. Next year! 

 

Man, we love the fair.

Where else can you catch a real cowboy sharing stories from the farm with strangers?