Livestock at the Fair

Do you remember the folk song (or children song) Animal Fair? 

We're going to the animal fair.
The birds and beasts were there.
The big baboon by the light of the moon
was combing his auburn hair.

That's the first verse of the version I know, which according to Wikipedia was first sung in 1898 by American sailors. I'll probably hum that tune on Saturday as the Husband and I take the free shuttle to the San Benito County Fair. Alas, there shan't be any baboons, but domestic birds and beasts shall be there.

The San Benito County Fair is this weekend at Bolado Park: Friday, October 3 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), Saturday, October 4 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), and Sunday, October 5 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) The San Benito County Express will offer a free shuttle from San Juan Bautista and Hollister on all three days. Click here for the shuttle schedule.

The cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and rabbits are all raised by members of the various 4-H clubs in San Benito County, as well as high school students who belong to the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Every year, the youth sell their cows, pigs, and goats at the Junior Livestock Auction which is held at the fair. This year, it's on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

Today is Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday. That's where I'm hanging out, checking other letter L posts by  bloggers from around the world. You can join me by clicking here.

By the way, I'm featuring the county fair this whole week. Here are Monday's post and Tuesday's post. Swing back tomorrow if you can.

Our World: The San Benito County Fair

I never gave much thought to the definition of county fair. Nor did I ever wonder if the term was even in the dictionary. Until last night, that is.  In honor of the San Benito County Fair this weekend (October 3, 4, and 5), I thought I'd feature it every day this week, but, as usual, without a plan about what to post. And, when in a mire about what to write, I reach for the dictionary and if the dictionary inspires naught, the encyclopedia.

According to Merriam Webster, the term county fair is a noun.  It originated in 1856. It means "a fair usually held annually at a set location in a county especially to exhibit local agricultural products and livestock."   Oxford Dictionaries.com defines county fair one better: "A competitive exhibition of livestock, agricultural products, and household skills held annually by a town, county, or state and also featuring entertainment and educational displays."

 
The San Benito County Fair is held at Bolado Park, eight miles south of Hollister. According to the May 10, 1938 issue of the Free Lance,  in 1922, some folks asked Julia Bolado Davis if they could hold a county fair on part of her property. She said yes and the rest was history.

Today, I'm linking up with Our World Tuesday. I invite you to come check out posts by other bloggers around the world. Please click here. 

P.S. Here's the link to yesterday's post about the San Benito County Fair. By the way, I have no idea what I'll write about tomorrow.

Up Ahead: The 2014 San Benito County Fair

2011 San Benito County Fair

Yaay! It's county fair time in our part of the world. Over the next four days, children and adults are taking their entries down to Bolado Park for the San Benito County Fair. Then all through next weekend, we can stroll among the exhibits and check out all the wonderful entries—livestock, art, flower arrangements, photographs, paintings, crafts, cookies, pies, pickled vegetables, quilts, crafts, and so on.

2009 San Benito County Fair

The 91st annual San Benito County Fair runs from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5. For details about hours, admission, and schedule, click here to go to the fair's website. The San Benito County Express will be offering a free bus shuttle to the fair, which will make stops in Hollister and San Juan Bautista.  Click here for the shuttle schedule.

2012 San Benito County Fair

Today, I'm hanging out at Smiling Sally's Blue Monday. Come join me by clicking here. 

By the way, I'll be posting photos from the past six fairs this week. 

2013 San Benito County Fair

Heading Up to the Clouds

Yesterday was a gorgeous day to hike the Anza Trail, a mile or so south of the City of San Juan Bautista. The trail, formally known as the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, is 1,200 miles long, stretching from Nogales, Arizona to the Carquinez Straits in Contra Costa, California.

The local segment of the trail used to be the Old Stage Road, on which once upon a time stage coaches ran between San Juan Bautista and Salinas. The first mile of the 4.5 trail is a rather steep climb that I wonder how often passengers had to get off the coach and walk.

Today, I'm hanging out at The Weekend in Black and White. Click here to see other black and white photos by bloggers around the world.

One of the Three Sisters

Don't let this photo fool you. The peak is further away than it looks. I took this from the north end of Santa Ana Valley Road when I was bicycling around the valley a couple weeks ago.