Published: September 04, 2008 11:43 pm      

Fair appeals to diversity of tastes

EBENSBURG — Early afternoon at the Cambria County Fair draws a more subdued crowd.

Before the rides start whirring and the neon lights flash, people lazily walk the barns, checking out the prize beef and Play-Doh artwork.

While Rodney Hale, 50, a railroader from Altoona, and his girlfriend planned to hang around for the rides Thursday, he enjoyed taking in the animals.

“I really like the pigs. I thought ‘hot sausage’ as soon as I seen it. We had to go and get one. It was good, too, for $3.50.”

The baked-goods section seems a takeoff on Bubba in the movie “Forrest Gump” talking about the many uses of shrimp. The many prizes in the cookie category, for instance, include no-bakes, rolled, drop, chocolate chip, peanut butter and decorated cutout sugar.

Down at the swine barn, 4-H member Lindsey Springer, 11, of Nanty Glo, was watering her hogs.

Lindsey enjoys caring for her animals and being part of 4-H. “It teaches you responsibility,” she said.

She acknowledged that cleaning the pens “isn’t the fun part, but it’s part of 4-H.”

Another not-so-fun part is when that time comes.

“I had a pig, Buddy. I couldn’t look when they carted him off (for slaughter) last year,” the youngster said.

She enjoys raising pigs, rabbits and chickens. And she has had some luck.

Lindsey received a first, second and fourth place for chickens; first and third for pigs; and first for rabbits.

Even city slickers can become part of it all.

Christina Kimley of Johnstown was supervising her children and niece at the alpaca pens. They lease their animals from a Sidman farm and the girls tend to their animals there.

Niece Sarah Kimley, 12, also of Johnstown, was well-informed when asked about the difference between alpacas and llamas.

“Llamas are bigger, alpaca fiber is worth more and it’s hypoallergenic,” she said.

Some long-haired, female alpacas can cost up to $50,000, Sarah said.

They are raised for their fur – fiber – which is used in rugs and clothing, such as sweaters, Christina Kimley said.

Sarah Reese of Johnstown was visiting the fair for the first time in years and checking out the horses.

It made her reminisce about growing up on a Clearfield County farm.

“We had fields for gardens. We grew our own meat, our own food,” she said.

Matt Shirk of Nanty Glo said he has been coming to the fair for three decades. While he still has a good time, he said the amusements have a “cheesier setup” than when he was young.

His daughter, Rya, 4, didn’t notice.

“I like the rides that go really fast,” she said.