County Fair

We journeyed over miles of cultivated
countryside to the August County Fair,
heralded by Ferris wheels, and acres of sprawling
exhibition barns, where farm families display
prize produce, livestock, fiber − reminding us
our food does not come from the supermarket. 

We ask about the “chickens” − are politely
directed toward the “poultry” barn on West Street.                      
Proceeding past the horses, milkers, breeding
bulls, junior beef and swine, each spiced with smells
and sounds of judging, we arrive at Poultry,
a barn filled with exotic fowl and roosters’
raucous frenzy-rousing crowing cacophonies.                                 

A proud 4-H’er holds some birds for me
to touch and photograph.  I ask about
a regal rooster, war-helmet comb,
iridescent green and russet feathers. long
black tail.  She says he is the only one
she cannot handle.  He attacks with beak
and spurs drawing blood.  I nod: “He seems 
to me the most attractive rooster here.”
She smiles.  “That’s the only reason he’s alive.”                                    

 578    September 2013