Howard County is an interesting juxtaposition of a suburban eastern third (Columbia/Ellicott City was just named #2 on Money's list of Best Places to Live for small cities) with a largely rural western section, where zoning has preserved agricultural land (and, to be honest, McMansions).
The HoCo Fairgrounds are located right at this seam near the junction of MD 32 and I-70, and the annual County Fair is a bit of a throwback, with a decidedly small-town feel. I usually have a good time.
The Grand Opening Parade
I didn't realize that this was the day of the opening parade (the fair actually started on Friday).
With this being an election year, the fairgrounds were replete with political campaign signs and several of the local politicians headed the parade, including Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman.
One family had their own little mini parade:
The Mini Fashion Show
On the spur of the moment I decided to attend a Mini Fashion Show with 4-H Club girls between the ages of 4 and 18 modeling outfits they had sewed themselves.
One young girl actually made matching outfits for herself and her 4-year-old sister.
Cow Milking Competition
The Mini Fashion Show was preceded by a cow milking competition between some of the local teachers. I had to laugh to see that the community paper, The Howard County Times, took the same picture as I did of a teenage girl eating her ice cream cone while holding onto the business end of one of the milk cows.
Miscellaneous Photos
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Sheep in the "Recovery Pen" waiting to be sheared. |
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A boy and his rabbit. |
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The King Street Bluegrass Band. |
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Racing Pigs. |
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| Fresh-squeezed lemonade is good on a hot day (if a bit expensive). I kept going back till the guy said, "I've seen you before." |
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