A trip to the Iowa State Fair in photographs

Right now the Iowa State Fair is going on here in Des Moines. We went on Saturday, and I took lots of pictures of chickens at the poultry show, as well as some ducks, some sheep, goats, and other livestock. I thought some of you might like to see the sights. Lotta pictures coming right up!! My favourite thing at the fair was the 4 bantam chickens I brought home! But, my second favourite thing is the chocolate peppermint bar ice creams made by Bauder's Pharmacy - a local ice cream fountain place in the back of a drugstore. Old fashioned and oh so good!

Here we go to the poultry show! And a pretty brown hen greets us!

Here's a comfy looking gal - maybe she's laying an egg?!

I don't know all the breeds - there were so many!

Yikes - who let this guy in the show?! He's kinda scary looking!

And he has a friend! The "punk rocker" types of the chicken world if you ask me!

A pretty Dorking silver grey hen...

...and a salmon faverolle. I just love these guys. I wish I could have bought one of those!

A frizzle! So cute!!

One handsome man!

And another handsome guy - what a gorgeous bird!

A diversion into ducks....this one is slightly out of focus but I love his color!

And another cute duck!

Reaaallllly makes me think about getting a duck, or 2!

I forget this chicken's breed - I think it's Japanese or something.

I believe this was some sort of pheasant. Really pretty feathers.

A polish chicken with a pom pom on its head! Tee hee!

Let sleeping chickens lie.

Here's a pair of sebrights.

Let's go look at some livestock for a few photos before we get back to chickens!

Here's an alpaca with her baby.

Here's the big boar from the show. He weighed I think 1259 pounds, or somewhere really close to that.

Here's the second biggest ram.

And the biggest ram! Wouldn't want to be on his bad side!

Some cheviot sheep!

An elk - what a rack!

Here is a llama (not to be confused with the previous alpaca, but they can look similar).

A miniature donkey. Too adorable. I just wanted to give it a big hug!

A miniature fainting goat. Also very cuddly.

A "before" sheep.

And off they go...the speediest sheep shearers in Iowa! One of them is actually on the US team that goes to international events. They are SO fast!

Partly done!

She's nearly naked! Good for the sheep - it was a warm day!

A nubian goat (the kind we are soon getting 6 of...)

Ah, back to the pretty chickens!

Lovely feathers!

This bird is so pretty - I wonder what kind she is?

Another handsome roo.

This gal was a squawker!

I think this one is spangled...or pencilled, or something!

Maybe this is actually the spangled one.

Spangled? Spotted? Super? Maybe all 3?

Oh! A tag! A Star Spangled Hamburg!