Franklin County Fair - Midway And Poultry

From the goat and cattle barns (see yesterday's post), I walked over to the midway. Alas, most people have a much later schedule than I do, and the rides and concession stands were just getting ready. Nonetheless, it was so colorful and fun to look at that I took photos anyway:

Funnel cakes and elephant ears:

Ribbon fries, Chicken tenders, Chili fries, Cheese Fries:

Cotton candy, cold drinks, Sno Kones, Popcorn, Caramel apple slices:

An old fashioned carousel:

And "The Tornado" for a wild ride:

Rock And Roll, a perennial favorite:

My next stop was the poultry barn, another favorite of mine as I've kept poultry for many years. The male peacocks were putting on quite a display:

There were ducks of all kinds and colors:

Royal Palm turkeys and many other varieties:

Golden Pheasants:

Guinea Fowl:

Polish chickens:

Old English Game Bantams:

Silkies:

And just a few cages of Tumbler Pigeons. It's a good thing they didn't have Fantail Pigeons or I might have been tempted to buy some:

Small Animal Swap Meet In Gouverneur, New York - Part 2

I was attending the swap meet of the Northern New York Poultry Fanciers Association at the fairgrounds in Gouverneur, New York. I'd hoped to find some Fantail Pigeons, but was enjoying the other beautiful birds while I searched:

There were Black Swedish and Cayuga ducks:

Angora rabbits:

And finally, some pigeons. They were lovely, but not fantails:

 I think these were White Japanese:

More Vietnamese Potbelly Pigs:

An Angora rabbit being groomed. It was nice to see how tame the bunny was and how tenderly it was treated. These were mostly people who loved animals:

I asked about Fantail Pigeons and someone called a friend who said he'd bring some down at $25 per pair. I was tempted, but said that was a little steep, especially sight unseen. So I kept looking:

Dark Throat Golden Pheasants:

And Red Golden Pheasants:

Tangerine and white Ringnecked Doves:

I don't know what breed these were, but they looked old. They were also my last stop before I got back into my car and began the long drive home:

Small Animal Swap Meet In Gouverneur, New York - Part 1

On the morning after the dog agility trials (see yesterday's post), I drove to the county fairgrounds in Gouverneur, New York for a small animal swap meet. It was sponsored by the Northern New York Poultry Fanciers Association:

I parked my car and began looking at the many tailgate cages with birds and other animals for sale:

I was hoping to add some new blood to my Fantail Pigeons, but would enjoy looking at everything. These, I believe, were white Old English Game Bantams. And what a cheap price! Apparently someone wanted rid of them:

This couple was purchasing some very large Partridge (colored) Cochin Chickens:

A grand mixture of birds, including some colorful Polish (with the topknots):

This truck had lots of Golden Pheasants for sale:

 I walked around to the back of the truck, where folks were already crowded around for a closer look:
 

A pair of Silver Golden Pheasants:

And Lady Amherst Pheasants:

Then I continued walking. There was a food vender, but it was much too early for lunch:

Someone was selling a Vietnamese Potbelly Pig:

I entered the Poultry Barn and discovered lots of birds and other animals for sale. Many of them were clearly labeled with breed names and prices, which was very nice. But I still hadn't seen any Fantail Pigeons, so I kept looking. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Franklin County Fair - Part 1

I'd already missed the St. Lawrence county fair, my neighbors told me, but the Franklin County fair was just beginning. I made plans to go on Thursday, Senior Citizens Day, for the discount. I drove to the town of Malone, parked and began my tour in the riding horse barn:

These, it appeared to me, were dearly beloved pets. They traveled with their humans and their stalls were decorated with pictures, plaques and curtains:

I next went into the dairy barn, where jumbo Holsteins were being groomed to impress the judges:

There were a variety of breeds and ages of cattle:

But Holsteins were far and away the most numerous breed:

Then there were these American British White Parks, a beef breed whose farm I visited several years ago. In fact, I might be raising them now except that their owner told me I'd never find any for sale:

Outside, the cattle were being given showers and full beauty treatments:

I went next into the poultry barn. Having raised so many types of poultry over the years, I always enjoy looking for familiar old breeds and surprising new breeds:

There were Golden Pheasants:

And golden colored chickens:

Guinea Hens:

And turkeys. There were lots more kinds of birds, and I'll present just a few of them in tomorrow's post: