There are experiences here in California that fill in little pieces of the puzzle that is American life. Today another piece fell into place as we visited the Alameda County Fair.
This is the annual gathering of all things agricultural (and otherwise) in our local county, held over the mountains in Pleasanton where, away from the beautiful Pacific breeze, everything was around ten degrees warmer. Cages and pens of livestock jostled for position with fairground rides and food sellers.
A big attraction was the plethora of competitions available for the general public to enter. Everything (everything) was being put up for judging: quilts, cakes, pickles, rabbits, gardens, place settings, flowers...and everything seemingly won a prize.
After perusing the competition halls we made our way to the main event (in my opinion). Pig racing! Some pedigree pigs had been brought down from Alaska and were more than happy to run crazily around a small track while an excitable crowd cheered. Unfortunately we didn't pick the winner (a pig called Yukon) but as you weren't allowed to bet it didn't matter.
That was enough fun for one day, and we stopped for a funnel cake - the least healthy food in the world - on the way out before driving back over the hills to cooler and far more sensible Berkeley.
A sun-baked celebration of agriculture or a way to make lots of money on a holiday weekend?
My favourite category of the competitions - the box of rubbish. Or maybe it was something to do with collections. Anyway, this one got third place.
Hannah and Christine are unimpressed.
My personal favourite collection - sugar packets of American restaurants. This won first, naturally.
Yes! Finally someone serving proper popcorn.
Another great display from the garden section. A giant mosquito sitting on a picnic table! How can you top that?
Missy's best in show white chocolate banana cake. Sadly you could only admire it from behind glass.
The jams and preserves competition.
A live demo of how to make tamales. I'm still not 100% sure what they are...
If these are the prize vegetables I'd hate to see the losers.
But everyone's seemingly a winner here in Alameda County!
A tense face-off in the best bunny competition.
Not a flag you encounter very often in Northern California. I didn't try speaking Welsh to him.
Here we go, time for the good stuff.
Under starters orders.
And they're off! The winner doesn't get roasted...until tomorrow.
They decided to make things progressively more difficult for these porkers.
But they performed admirably in front of a crowd baying for sausages.
A different (and better) kind of pig.
This was the exhibition hall. Not much exhibiting going on, but plenty of "as seen on TV" selling.
Credit where credit's due to the Americans. Ranch dressing was available for dipping on request.
Big wheel.
"I'll have a helping of deep-fried batter and a heart attack before I'm 40 please."
And here it is! With extra sugar.
A pair of simple country folks...
And their big city cousins.
