PHOTOGRAPH INFO

For many folks, the 4-H cattle show is one of the highlights of the Middletown Grange Fair. The animals are raised by 4-H kids for months or years, then brought to the fair for the annual competition. It's impressive to watch a 100-pound (or less!) child successfully handle a 1200-pound steer in a show ring! The level of dedication, patience and perseverence is amazing to see.

Incidentally, many of the prize Herefords in the show were born at Durham Valley Farm in Durham Township, owned and run by the Ulmer family and the Macik family.

Post-processing: Shot with the Canon EOS 5D and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens at 24mm, ISO 1600, f/3/2, shutter 1/200s. Curves adjustments and color balancing.

Thank you for visiting Durham Township!

--Kathleen

Vote for this site in the 2007 Photoblog Awards and the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards

It sure is a rarity to get that backwards profile shot. I like how she has her tools in her back pocket.

I learn so much about this country-esque culture from your blog. One of these days I want to go out and visit a farm and see all of these things first hand.

P.S. She must be tough to handle such a large animal!

I'm sorry I missed this fair, I really wanted to go. As always great photo, keep up the excellent work.

The sawdust adds such a wonderful light to this piece, that and the texture is great. Nice shot. She looks so proud.

I like their matching expressions, almost saying "Yeah, what about it?" I check your site almost every day. Thanks for the great shots.

Liz

Hi, I've been following your pictures for a while, and I quite enjoy them. The color you get is great. I also like you compositions. Thanks for sharing!

The County Fair is America personified. Everyone gathers to have fun, mingle and eat! Try your hand at the hoop toss, the bean bag throw, put a BB gun to your shoulder and test your eye, knock over the milk jugs or send the Mayor into the water at the dunk tank! Ride the carousel or get your love interest to take you to the top of the Ferris Wheel. Dance and sing together listening to the live music from local favorites. Eat the "good stuff"! No processed foods here, just good down home cookin'! chicken, steak, ribs, pork, mutton, corn on the cob, green tomatoes and watermelon for all. Throw in the popcorn, cotton candy, funnel cake and caramel apples and you have a day in paradise!

While all this excitement is going on, a modern day Noah's Ark procession of livestock trailers filled with cows, horses, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens is heading for the main tent. The cacophony of sounds and the myriad smells that eminate from the big top is a familiar mixture of creaking leather, chewing tobacco, sawdust, straw and animal droppings.

These aromas and sounds are like the music of the Pied Piper that lead everyone inexorable through the tent flaps to the bleachers. We sit and make our private guesses and are happily surprised or disappointed in the choices of the judges. The real action is at the holding pens where the "contestants" are being washed, curried, braided and festooned with ribbons. Animals raised from birth to be the champion of the Fair standing ready for their moment at center stage.

But what does the future hold for these "contestants" after the fair is over? Some of the winners may be saved for breeding but many of the also rans have a more chilling fate in store for them. After all, where do you think the meat you ate outside the tent comes from?

Wonderfully captured poise. A serious pair for the moment.......but I cannot get past wondering if she is humming the appropriate Beatles tune....for at least tonight, she is.....and life is fair still...and what a delightful vignette from the pen of Willow! (For several paragraphs, I was 10 again. Thank you, Willow!)

And Thank you again Kathleen, for the non-predictable tour of Life in the Shire.

looks like a fun time! cute cow

Wonderful! The color is magnificent here (as always). These fairs are such simple country pleasures.

When I was young these fairs were the highlight of the summer. There were several big ones my parents made sure to take us to. I usually hung around the horses most because they were my favorites. I love cows too but my Aunt had so many.

Nice Shot!

Beautiful photo, I like the colours.

love the perspective and the caught moment here

BTW, I am taking a road trip East of Pittsburgh, to Philly and around the area, next month, hopefully I get the chance to snap in Durham Township ;-)

hope all is well,
Craig

I have been waiting for someone to post "Nice set of Heifers". Guess I was waiting for one of the farmers to say that. Now everyone will be looking up what a Heifer is. I love the photos and your essay of the local life. Keep up the outstanding work!!

In Singapore, we could only catch cowboys and rodeos on TV. Heard about such fairs in snippets of shows like that of Gilmore girls and etc. Hence, I used to think that such shows are just but on TV and in reality there aren't such things anymore.

But when I came across your photoblog, with such a nice shot, I finally believe that such fairs still exist!