Glenn's passport to adventure
Unless you were a teenager waiting in line after dark to ride Turbo Force — or another brave soul looking for the taste of the exotic — Cal Expo's exhibits, entertainment, fabulous food and midway excitement were the big draws the first week of the California State Fair.
From fine arts to aviation and technology; livestock exhibits to Ferris Wheels and food-on-a-stick, people clamored to take in as much high-energy and high-calorie entertainment as the annual event provides.
"I didn't eat the python," said 11-year-old Hailey Traynham of Maxwell, on the infamous tons of deep-fried everything available at the State Fair. "But I did have the Tornado Taters and a fried cucumber."
Although the State Fair included a day spent at the water park for young Traynham and brother Austin, 14, the siblings were just two of the many youth and commercial animal breeders who exhibited the best livestock the state has to offer.
On Wednesday, Traynham led "Miss Piggy" into the show ring — one of six Angus cattle she and her brother took to the fair from their own 50-head A & H Ranch in Colusa County.
"She is a good heifer," Traynham said. "She's deep in the stomach and has a good walk. She also leads really well. That is what the judges are looking for."
Of course, what state fair would be complete without barnyard stables, live births and cute baby animals?
U.C. Davis Cooperative Extension's baby nursery and petting zoo was a popular spot for both children and adults, many waiting patiently or checking in from time to time to see new fair-born youngins' take their first breath.
"This is about as close as we ever get to livestock, said Sandy Cavalho, a Sacramento mother of four. "We come to the fair every year and always stop by the baby nursery. The baby pigs are the best."
Although Days of the Dinosaurs — a life-sized animatronic prehistoric adventure — was probably the biggest draw at the state fair, with the waiting time to get in stretching to an hour by nightfall — the California counties exhibit remained true to its claim of being one of the most popular exhibits at the fair for more than 100 years.
At the exhibit on Wednesday, fairgoers couldn't help but admire the masterpieces that showcased what 30 of the state's 58 counties had to offer.
"The animation is what's truly amazing," said Erin Tooley of Carmichael . "It's really what makes each exhibit pop."
From Sutter County's gold to Placer County's best of show, North State counties were the best represented, as each highlighted the area's vast agriculture, recreational opportunities and natural resources.
Glenn, Colusa and Tehama counties each won silver awards.
At Glenn County's booth, children were fascinated by the large cow spinning on a turntable, surrounded by Duche nuts, Rumiano cheese and the large assortment of other donated commodities.
Glenn County has a long history of taking home gold or silver, and has occasionally won the coveted special awards.
The exhibit was built by contractor John Quierlo, who has worked with Salvango's Floral Design on the booth in previous years.
"Glenn County has done very well at the State Fair," said Jennifer Cannizzaro, Glenn County Public Works exhibit coordinator. "The exhibit is very important to us. It gives the county exposure. People come to the fair from all over the world, and they're looking at Glenn County and all we have to offer."
Like Glenn County, Tehama County's booth offered up a cornucopia of information, but instead of agriculture, Tehama highlighted the area as the recreation destination for the North State.
"I didn't know where Tehama County was," said Robert Gomes of Long Beach, as he admired the county's tribute to the Red Bluff Roundup and other activities. "I'm not sure that I ever even heard of it, but it looks like a great place to visit."
Near the main entrance of the California building, "Family Farmer Fred," a creation of Barbara Mayberry's third grade class at Williams Elementary School, greeted fairgoers to the Colusa County exhibit.
It was the Colusa County U.C. Davis Cooperative Extension office's efforts to reinstate community interest in the State Fair that earned the county the coveted Superintendent's Award, in addition to the silver.
"We had about 30 people and 15 organizations help with the building the exhibit," said Gerry Hernandez, coordinator. "We were all very excited about the award."
For the past decade, Colusa County's exhibit was designed and built entirely by the Fouts Springs Youth Facility.
This year, the Colusa County Resource Conservation District, Sue Graue Wildlife Photography, the Sacramento Valley Museum, the Colusa County Farm Bureau and many others participated and provided materials.
For the first time, the exhibit was staffed by county supervisors, Williams and Colusa officials, master gardeners and many others.
Hernandez was working the booth opening day, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured some of the exhibits and held a small press conference.
"The governor missed Colusa County, which was unfortunate," Hernandez said. "We saw the Secretary of Agriculture, but we didn't even know the governor was there. If I had known, I would have gone over and dragged him back to see our booth. I'm not at all shy when it comes to things like that."
Although the governor missed some of the exhibits, thousands of other people didn't.
About 800,000 to 1 million people are expected to attend this year's event, which concludes Aug. 1, State Fair officials said Wednesday.
"The (California Counties) is such a popular exhibit," Hernandez said. "I can't believe how many people took pictures and asked questions."
Counties will be able to begin planning for next year's exhibits in November, when the 2011 California State Fair theme is announced.
