While we were meandering the Cincinnati area in the fall of 2006 we saw a flier for this wonderful balloon show to benefit one of the local schools. It was loosely organized by Steven Jones, Aeration Decorations as a BalloonTownUSA project but I am having a hard time getting good links to more details. Apparently there was a show we missed in 2005 and I've now added the Balloon-A-Lot page for the 2007 show. Both of us were thrilled by the event based around the story of Farmer Floyd being about to lose the farm and the animals coming to the rescue. Below is the story line from the yellow placards and pictures of the great balloon sculptures.
Farmer Floyd is very sad,
For things you see,have come to harm;
Economic times are bad,
And Farmer Floyd may lose his farm
The animals are saddened too,
Their hearts are filled with doubt and fear;
They ask themselves, What can we do
To save the home we love so dear?
Then Piggy said, My friends take heed,
I have a plan now don't you know.
If money's all we really need,
Let's sell some stuff
and raise the dough!
So off they went upon their quest,
To sell their wares by hoof and wing;
But even though they tried their best,
They didn't sell a single thing.
So Sheepy said, Now hear me out,
My friends, I think I know the way;
Games make people laugh and shout.
Let's run some here and charge to play!
So once again the critters tried
To save the farm from its demise.
Yet even still, the fates denied
Their struggling little enterprise.
Then Horsey said, Let's hit the floor
And throw a rockin' blow-out bash.
We'll charge for tickets at the door,
And that way we can raise the cash!
The party ran all through the night,
But never really drew a crowd.
Perhaps the music wasn't right,
Or maybe it was too darn loud.
Now things were looking pretty dank,
Their sadness deepened all the while.
So Clucky thought he'd play a prank
To give them all a little smile.
When Cowlick's head was turned a bit,
He tied balloons onto her tail.
And when they saw the sight of it,
The animals did laugh and wail.
And yet they didn't realize
What Clucky's joke still had in store.
For right before their very eyes,
The cow, she lifted off the floor!
Too many balloons were tied, you see,
To Cowlick's bovine derrière.
And thus, she defied gravity,
And floated up into the air!
Then Ducky cried, Hip-Hip Hooray!
The answer is so crystal clear.
I've got the thing to save the day;
Let's get some more balloons in here!
When Floyd came out to till the ground,
Imagine what he looked upon.
The animals were flying 'round,
And suddenly his fears were gone.
Reporters came and TV crews
Appeared to capture such a sight.
They even showed it on the news
From morning, noon and late at night
The people came from miles around
To see the Flying Critter Show.
From city, burg, village and town,
They lined the fields to watch them go.
And yes, they paid to spend their time
Among this airborne creature rank.
And with these quarters, bucks and dimes,
Floyd bought the farm back from the bank.
So with that act their home was saved,
And now the animals could stay.
The lien against it had been waved,
For Clucky's joke had saved the day.
So if you're ever country-bound
And wish to see some unique charm,
Make sure you stop and look around
At Farmer Floyd's A-Floatin' Farm.
