Deerfield NH Fair

The Deerfield Fair is the oldest and largest fair in NH. My family also believes it is the best. Any yes we spent one summer/fall attending all of New Hampshire's fairs. Well except Rochester's. That seems to be more of a carnival than an agricultural fair. We have been to the Deerfield fair for 17 of the pass 18 years. None of us can remember why we missed a year but we know we did.

We arrive at gate-opening (8 AM) on Saturday. It was raining when we left home and rain was forecast throughout the day. The fair gods were smiling on us and it stopped raining as we arrived. It did not rain again until we were in the car driving home.

One of my favorite parts of the fair is the equipment displays. Who doesn't love tractors?

Branson Tractors


Kubotas


We hit the animal barns. These were in the dairy barn but I can't remember the type of cow. They were "nuzzling" to scratch each other/s ears.


The oxen are amazing. The have oxen pulls. This is the 2 year olds being called into the judging area before any pulling.


They walk beside the trainer who gives voice commands and sometimes uses a switch. They are extremely well behaved.


The trainer gave a stop command and they patiently stand there.


This is ML watching a set walk up. They are huge.



This pair is 4 months old. The young trainer was just practicing maneuvers and had them spin on a dime to turn.


They have horse pulls. But the horses must sleep in late  The horse pulls are in the afternoon. We did not see any of the draft horses as the barn was closed.


The weather kept the crowds away. I have never seen it this empty.


We saw part of the dressage show. The horses and riders are beautiful. The dressage cant of the horses is a sight to see. This round of riders lined up for the judging.


They even have little tykes dressage. Some of these kids were in diapers. This girl was all business. She won.



They have a midway of carnival rides. We did not ride any rides


Of course what is a visit to the fair with out fair food.
Me with a "jumbo" doughtnut.


ML and neighbor/honorary grandmother Alice enjoy a funnel cake.


On the wau out there is a border collie demonstration. The trainer gave a down/stay command and left the pen. The dogs are on the right with eyes on the sheep. The dogs never moved. The sheep walked around without a worry though they stayed behind an imaginary line away from the dogs.


We left at 11:30 after a great time.


Phil

Phil, looks like you guys had a very good time!

That looks like a lot of fun!

Ag fairs are enjoyable and interesting. They can keep the midway I have no use for them either.

When I first moved to Maine I spent a winter as a loggers "chopper". Of course I chopped nothing, but used a chainsaw but that's what it's called. Other than that it was old time logging with draft horses being used to pull the logs out of the woods and to the yard. These logs were huge, one was 56" on the butt and 18' long. But the horses were huge too. When they get going you do NOT want to get in their way or put yourself anywhere near the log. When they get it in their head that the log is going to move, it's going to move, it's as simple as that. It gives a new perspective on what 2 "horse power" actually is. The weather that winter was down to -30°F and I sweated just as heavily as the horses. When cutting I was wearing everything down below the belt, but up top I was down to my longjohn top and I would actually steam. Just like the horses. Of course when I stopped for more than a few minutes everything had to get put back on because nothing stays hot at those temps without activity that burns fuel. Just a few minutes of inactivity and I'd start to get cold. But wearing cold with that activity would have been a huge mistake. One doesn't want wet clothing at those temp's. It was an interesting winter and an experience I'll never forget. I couldn't do it today, it'd kill me. Plus OSHA would have a fit if they saw how I was limbing back then. The tree would land on it's side (white pine) and I would climb the trunk which was at a 30° angle cutting limbs as I went up. As I'd cut limbs the tree would settle down to the ground. You don't want to miss any below as that would make the tree roll and that would be a disaster when up in the air 20 feet or so. A few times I threw my saw away to make sure that if I fell I wouldn't fall onto the sharp chain. I never did fall. Young and foolish, more muscles than brains, but that's how we did it.

But I'm way off topic.

Looks like fun but it also looks like it is starting to get cold there.

Looks like fun but it also looks like it is starting to get cold there.

Yes it is already. The day of the fair was wet and overcast with a high of 60.

The mornings here have been right near 40 F for the past week. I love this time of year for the crisp mornings.

But I'm way off topic.

Yes you were but still a fascinating read. You lead a most interesting life. You should write a book.

We cut a lot of our own fire wood. I love doing it but appreciate and am aware of the inherent dangers. Always need to stay alert.

Phil

Yes it is already. The day of the fair was wet and overcast with a high of 60.

The mornings here have been right near 40 F for the past week. I love this time of year for the crisp mornings.

Love those chilly mornings. I will get up early on Saturdays - go out and build a small fire burning up the collected sticks and branches and drink coffee. Once the fire is going I set out to do all the outdoor projects that I put off when it was 90 outside. I have 120 feet of fencing to put up and another 6 raised beds to put in for next spring.

Thanks for the thread about the fair in New Hampshire.

This is better than looking at fancy razors.

You lead a most interesting life. You should write a book.

Sorry for taking it off topic, but the draft horses and oxen took me back when you mentioned them at an Ag' fair. Very few people actually use draft horses today.

I've been told that before, about the book that is. I think it would largely be an exercise in narcissism, and I just don't need that, so it'll never happen.