| I miss the animal events at county fairs, but | | | | blue just doesn't want his mane blown dry by |
| as close as I get to one these days is by | | | | a hair dryer! That's when he kicks and |
| watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show | | | | bites. Most mule skinners will say a goat is |
| on TV. It's not quite the same, I guess I | | | | easier to train walk show- style than a mule. |
| miss the smells. In today's technical world | | | | It's a fact that a mule trains its owner in |
| I guess I'll have to be satisfied with | | | | the steps of a show. |
| electronic dog shows. | | | | |
| | | | One glaring difference between the |
| The Westminster television show was a | | | | Westminster Kennel Dog Show and the average |
| masterful production, timed to perfection | | | | county fair of my youth, are the competing |
| with the announcer and play by play guy | | | | aromas of the animal exhibits at the fair. |
| saying all sorts of exciting things like, | | | | The dog shows I've seen on television never |
| "This Great Dane really knows how to connect | | | | show one of those pampered mutts urinating or |
| with the crowd, doesn't he Charles?", as this | | | | worse on the feet of the judges. Not so with |
| huge dog gallops like a run-a-way train | | | | a cow or horse. I've never really given much |
| around the ring, dragging his handler behind | | | | thought of how to train a cow to use a |
| him as the audience erupts in applause. | | | | newspaper at the appropriate time, because |
| | | | they're really free spirits and when nature |
| As great as this show was, I miss the | | | | calls, they go. |
| livestock shows at county fairs. It's | | | | |
| exciting to watch the owner a of a prized cow | | | | The pig event at county fairs is always a big |
| nervously currying and curling the hair of a | | | | thrill. Often today these events are |
| beautiful white faced heifer as he or she | | | | sponsored by local 4-H clubs or FFA chapters. |
| nervously await their time with the judges. | | | | There are kids of all ages walking their |
| The straw and manure of the stables always | | | | pigs around the arena just like pooches do at |
| lent a not unpleasant aroma around the stalls | | | | the kennel show. The difference is the dogs |
| of the contestants. This added feature is | | | | are usually well behaved and strut around the |
| not allowed at most dog shows. | | | | track with their handlers. |
| | | | |
| Though the hour was late, most of America | | | | You don't really train a pig. Swine have |
| that was still awake at the time of the final | | | | their own free spirit genes and often you'll |
| judging for Best of Show, cheered for the | | | | see pure chaos in the area with owners |
| Beagle named Uno! This was the first time | | | | chasing their pigs before they can escape out |
| the breed had ever won the top honor at this | | | | the door. My farming cousins also tell me |
| glitzy show, making this an historic | | | | that for all their joy of rolling in the mud, |
| occasion. The crowd was on its feet with a | | | | pigs really don't like to take a bath. |
| standing ovation while Uno did his part by | | | | |
| howling and barking at the crowd. Great TV! | | | | Cows on the other hand, seem to appreciate |
| | | | being clipped and manicured. They love to be |
| There are still county and state fairs that | | | | pampered with a shower and good smelling |
| show farm animals, but they're nothing like | | | | soaps and shampoos. Old Bessie especially |
| the ones I visited in younger years. When I | | | | loves having her hair blown dried and curled |
| was growing up folks took their county fairs | | | | for the judges. |
| seriously and at a young age began raising, | | | | |
| grooming and training their animals in hopes | | | | There's a huge audience for The Westminster |
| that someday one would take home the blue | | | | Kennel Club Dog Shoe. Millions watched the |
| ribbon! Farm animals from sheep to mules | | | | little beagle being crowned king of the show. |
| were are entered into these county wide | | | | If county fairs were televised, fewer folks |
| contests. | | | | would have to clean their shoes before coming |
| | | | into the house! |
| It's not easy to groom a mule! Some days old | | | | |