{"id":1016,"date":"2013-08-22T16:46:49","date_gmt":"2013-08-22T20:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kb1awv.com\/?p=1016"},"modified":"2014-07-31T22:04:39","modified_gmt":"2014-08-01T02:04:39","slug":"washington-county-fair-ri-at-its-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/idlenot.com\/?p=1016","title":{"rendered":"Washington County Fair – RI at its best!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been almost three years since my wife and I moved to Washington County in Rhode Island. Washington County<\/a> makes up the southern third of the state and one island, Block Island. What a difference from up north! This is farmland, forest, and ocean beaches. The town we are in, Hopkinton<\/a>, is especially rural with a total population of under 8,000 (not including cattle, sheep, chickens, horses, and rabbits).<\/p>\n

The biggest fair in RI is held right next to Hopkinton in Richmond. Until this year we had never been. Each August we would remark about the signs announcing the upcoming event, express our desire to attend, and then do nothing. There was always a reason to put it off. This year was different. We went to the fair twice in one day!<\/p>\n

The only state fair we had attended in the past was the Rocky Hill State Fair that was held in East Greenwich.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>

This was one of only two fairs in the state for many years. The highlight for me was the demolition derby. Rocky Hill closed down over 20 years ago.<\/p><\/div>\n

It had all the neat country attractions plus the ever-popular demolition derby<\/a>. My parents took me once. I also took my young family there once .<\/p>\n

The fair closed down forever about 20 years ago. The time had come to check out Washington County Fair, only 3 miles from our home.<\/p>\n

\"I<\/a>

I like the Chrysler products because they usually have dramatic styling not seen in many other cars.<\/p><\/div>\n

We took our grandson in the morning. I checked out the old cars display (loved the Plymouth Concord coupe) while Owen pet and spoke to every sheep in Rhode Island.<\/p>\n

The cows did not excite him as much as the sheep but he did get fired up by all the exotic breeds of rabbits and chickens.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The sheep were gentle and my grandson was also. He loves animals!<\/p><\/div>\n

He even scored 3\/5 on the basketball toss and won a dragon plush toy. The highlight for me was the display of some 70 antique tractors. I have no need for a tractor but still would like to park one right next to the shed. This proposal has not passed the spousal board of review (don’t think it ever will). After some 2 hours it was time for Owen to go home and rest. My wife and I had our arms stamped so we could return at night.<\/p>\n

\"Have<\/a>

Have you ever seen a tractor as beautiful as this one? It took first place in a field of about 60 gorgeous machines.<\/p><\/div>\n

The night visit was even better. My wife had to submit to a total search of her purse as we entered. The security was tight but the smile and sweet attitude of the young lady who took care of us made it painless. We went in and skipped most of the animal displays (been there, did that) and went right to the horse team pull. It’s like a tractor pull but with teams of horses doing the pulling.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The 500-pound weights are loaded onto the sled. More weights are added for each trial.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The team escort (follow?) the horses to the htich<\/p><\/div>\n

They pull a sled that is laden with 500 pound weights. Each team consists of two horses and three men. One of the three men is the driver and he is positioned at center while the other two are behind each horse. The real tricky part is hitching the horses up to the sled. The driver has to drop their tow link onto the sled cleat. That sounds easy enough, so long as the horses are standing still. They are not. It is all the two driver helpers can do to keep the horses from running off before they even get
\nhitched.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The horses are hitched to the sled .. this is the tricky part. It also appeared dangerous.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"And<\/a>

And they are off! The action is sudden and intense.<\/p><\/div>\n

The horses have tremendous<\/p>\n

anticipatory energy that is barely contained. In several instances the horses took off before ever being tethered to the sled. The drivers were given three tries to get it right and sometimes they needed all three. I’ve included several photos and a video to give you the flavor of the excitement this event generated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Horse Pull – <\/p>\n