Our State Fair is a Great State Fair...

Don't miss it, don't even be late!  (Lyrics to the movie "State Fair" with Pat Boone and Ann Margret).  If you haven't seen that movie, you should find it and watch it!  We headed off to the state fair in Salem yesterday with Kristi and the boys in the car.  Our son Travis had to miss it as he works night and had to sleep during the day.  The first thing we saw at the fair was a "Raptor" Show - and they had this awesome bald eagle there - how cool is this?!

Next up was the pony ride for the boys - I guess this was serious business as there were no smiles.  I just asked them if they had fun and Caleb said "I enjoyed it!".  :-)

They got to ride around the circle three whole times.. lol! 

Hayden was up next!  Yeehaw! 

Giddy up cowboy!

Next up were the animal barns where the 4H kids were showing their animals, also the FFA - Future Farmers of America.  Here are some very cute baby goats. 

Pygmy goats.. these are full-size adult goats! 

They always have a mother pig with all her piglets.. you'd think they could dust them off for us photographers.. :-) 

This is a beautiful brown Angora goat.. we had a mother and daughter pair of these on the farm many years ago.. in white.  They also had a black one with grey hair.. they make mohair out of their coats. 

The next barn had the sheep and the kids were showing them.  Each animal is shown a different way and with sheep, you have to hold them with your hands, no collars and leads.  When our kids showed goats at the county fair, they were able to use leads. 

I think raising animals and showing them is so great for kids.. I just know these kids will be growing up to be great adults, don't you? 

On to the cows - the boys wanted to pet a cow.. so they did. Thank goodness the cows didn't seem to mind, much.  :-)

The boys found some pretty Brown Swiss cows, the one in front of them is a calf, and Caleb looked closely at it's pretty face.. and it licked him right on the mouth!  LOL!   

Dayle got this photo for me of this gorgeous beef steer. 

Then he snapped this photo of me, Kristi and the boys.  

More cute goats! 

Next up.. my favorites.. the horses!  Look at this magnificent Clydesdale draft horse! 

The big one she just put away is on the left.. the one of the right is even bigger!! 

More Clydesdales. 

This one is called a Brabant. 

Leaving the draft horse area I turned a corner and was thrilled to see a lady with black and white miniature horses!  They boys were entranced!  Aren't they cute?

Inside the big competition building was a horse and carriage show going on. 

Do you see this lady's carriage companion?  How cute!! 

Heading towards the midway we ran into the Oregon State Parks "Beaver"! 

We ducked into the poultry building and saw some chicks and bunnies, then on to the midway.  See that fair ride in the sky?  We were heading that way to ride back to the beginning where we started. 

Hayden played a water squirting game and won a stuffed "pepper"!  Here he is with a much larger one.  Caleb and Hayden played one more game and Hayden won - but he gave his win to Caleb and he got a cute stuffed lemur - wasn't that sweet?

Dayle, Kristi and the boys went on this ferris wheel.  I stayed on the ground and drank a cold water and took a photo and waved at them. 

Next up was getting on the moving sky lift, always exciting.. Kristi and Caleb in front of me and Dayle and Hayden ahead of them.  Now.. every time I ride this, I think it's going to break and we're all going to fall to the ground.. I enjoy it.. nervously. :-) 

No, we did not have any of these.. :-) 

This is a cool sculpture there..  

Dang, I wanted a scone.  We did have a soft ice cream and I had a corn dog. 

And then we headed home.. one and a half hour drive.. I was ever so glad to see my easy chair when we got home!  Today is another gorgeous day here in Oregon.  How is your last day of August going?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)