Middlesex County 4H Fair

Last weekend we drove out to Westford, MA for the Middlesex County 4H Fair. We had a great morning there. Thora is so taken with real-live animals that when we learned about this, we couldn't pass it up. And it was worth the trip. The fair was held at a fair grounds, and as we first entered, through a tall, forested camping area, Thora's face was agog at the sound of the neighing horses. It's about 90% curious, 10% terrified (as you can see in the photo to the left). The neighing of actual horses are significantly more dramatic than the neighs she hears from Mom and Dad. As are "mmmmoooos" of cows and the snorts of pigs. The roosters really alarm her. Same goes for the the strained and sudden "baaa" of a sheep. (Apparently while I was off running to get a map of the fair, Thora burst into tears in the large poultry barn when, one by one, the roosters contributed to a chorus of cock-a-doodle-do's which were more than she could deal with.)

But don't get me wrong. After the initial shock at how loud real animals are, she is her old self, if only slightly more tentative. (She re-learns this lesson each time we take her to a farm or petting zoo.) Here she is taking in all the horses as we first entered the fair (the video is only 14 seconds long):




In the video, you hear a version of her "neigh," which is normally "hee-hee-hee" while shaking her head. This version is more like a question mark as if she's verifying that this enormous and LOUD animal is what we've seen in books for months. This video also happens to highlight her willingness to greet all things that come into her frame of vision with a "hi" and a wave. This goes for people (of course), animals, moving objects (cars, trucks, trains), animals, and inanimate objects of all kinds. Seriously... all kinds of inanimate objects. Sometimes I wonder how we get anywhere.

Anyway, the trip to the 4H fair was fun. Some other highlights captured on film were:

Here, the kid in the green shirt announced the competitors in the Bunny Race. He used a great voice straight from the monster truck circuit, complete with hilarious bios of the bunnies, like, "'Little Britches' has been known to topple farm equipment if they stood between her and a carrot. Watch her in this race. She's a real contender!"

The race course was to the top of that carpeted ramp, which is about a fraction of an inch on the outside of the photo. So it lasted for about 10 seconds. Still, Thora, on Sean's shoulders, sat in rapt attention. She loves bunnies. Later we were lucky to pet one. I have to admit: the thought of getting her a bunny as a pet not only crossed my mind, but lingered there for a totally inappropriate time. (How do I forget the never-ending episode of Wild Kingdom that is our life at home, with the dog and the cat that, after 8+ years of living under the same roof, still don't leave each other alone.)

I got to milk a goat! This was an exhibit meant for kids, and yet I couldn't restrain myself. I did a pretty good job, too. Much better than the 6 year-old boy who went before me. He totally didn't get the idea that you're supposed to pinch the top off with your index finger and then squeeze with your other fingers.

Thora and a piglet.