We have been very impressed with the Kentucky State Fair. The number and quality of the exhibits has been wonderful as well as the entertainment and shows available at a very reasonable price especially with advance ticket purchases at local stores. Nearby motels tend to get a little pricey and advance reservations are definitly recommended but overall a good deal and we try as we can to fit it into our travel schedule.
Here in the main exhibit hall is the Gallopalooza booth where they are trying to peddle the decorated horses that have not found a sponsor yet. It is possible to spend a whole day just here with the rows and rows of crafts. We both like the hundreds of quilts, Lori likes the knitting, and I think the hundreds of photography submissions were expertly and fairly judged. As in so many artistic ventures the criteria are rather subjective but it was very rare to find outstanding pictures the judges ignored or junk judged as excellent.
Lori likes the pigs so we try to make the 4H swine show if possible.
In 2008 I was not real happy with the Montana show but here in Kentucky there is absolutely no question these kids are sharp. They have fine animals, poise, and confidence. Excellent.
And on the subject of pigs is the Pork Chop Review
featuring household, well down on the farm, pets performing a whole series of tricks like you probably never imagined from these big guys.
Mama pig is not just pushing the carriage but has a baby on board. The little pig here went through the yellow tube in the background, weaved between the barrels, and then through the red tube in front. This is a fine 45 minute show with a lot more tricks including one demonstrating they are house broken by asking to go out back for a minute. Arguments? Are they smarter than dogs?
The Jump, Ultimate Dog Show
features rescue dogs doing a variety of tricks mostly based around chasing a frisbee. They don't line up and stay in place like the pigs and each does one thing.
A much more impressive dog show is Miller's Border Collies
. Releasing the ducks, Alan Miller then has the dogs herd them through the various obstacles in the background before between himself and three dogs they get the ducks up the ramp and into a rather small cage. Yes, after a few hundred shows I'm sure the ducks know exactly what to do. The Kentucky State Fair website has a rather nice description of the 2017 show but I am not sure how long they will maintain it since the older fair information has been removed from the site and the Miller farm does not do a lot of well justified bragging.
In addition to pigs Lori also likes goats so I need to get one of their pictures in here someplace. At 18 feet tall Freddie Farm Bureau
has been a fixture at the fair for 60 years. He stands in front of the expo center right where this little girl seems to be headed from the fountain. I'm not sure where it is operated from but you can ask questions and generally have a conversation with Freddie.
Finishing up with music the Kentucky Blue was in one of the tents in the main fair during the day. They also have a series of free, paid also, evening concerts one of which is the Oak Ridge Boys who have now been performing at the fair for over 25 years. The girls in the middle were the warmup group for the Oak Ridge Boys working with a guy supposedly pulled from the audience but probably a shill.