119th Edition Cambria County Fair

Over the last several years Labor Day Weekend was a time for running from one end of the county to the other to enjoy the last of the summer festivals from Johnstown Folkfest to the St. Nicholas Homecoming in Nicktown, and of course the county fair in Ebensburg. This year we decided to stay home and visit events offered in the northern part of Cambria County. One of those venues was the Cambria County Fair, which traditionally opens over Labor Day weekend. I've participated as a contestant in the photography division for many years.

Saturday, 4 September 2010 at the Fairgrounds - The last day for folks to get their items into the exhibit halls.

A 1946 Oliver Cletrac HG

2 eggs, 2 links of sausage, 2 strips of bacon, 2 pancakes, homefries, toast -- $5

Man vs. Beef
Unloading at the steer barn.

Weighing meat rabbits in the 4-H Rabbit Barn.

Stacked chairs.

Last exit from the spookey house.

The only reason that this photograph is of any importance to me is that the gentleman is wearing a sweatshirt from the Reading Motorcycle Club whose clubhouse is located in Oley, PA. I lived near Oley and have attended events at the clubhouse. The Reading Motorcycle Club was founded in 1914 and is one of the oldest AMA motorcycle clubs in the United States.


Hollywood comes to Ebensburg.

Hen House.

Sunday, 5 September 2010 - First Day of the Fair

Dipping bananas at the frozen banana stand.


We got to the fairgrounds early enough on Sunday to catch some of the open class shows in the livestock arena. Here a sulky is pulled by a Percheron in the draft horse halter class.

A Belgian Draft Horse psyching itself up prior to the horse pulling contest.

Having 45 minutes to walk around the fairgrounds amusing ourselves before the next event in the arena, I shot some of the other activities on the grounds.

No it's not Ripley's Believe It or Not, it's Rickey's.

Riding the Round-up. This one was called The Inferno.

If you look closely at the woman in the white sweatshirt you will see that she is texting, and I thought I'd seen everything.

Kiddie Ride.

Always popular with the youngsters is the super slide.

One of the prizes in the row of games of chance and skill.

Ferris Wheel at the start of the Midway.

One of the things that we really wanted to see this year at the fair was the horse pulling contest that's always held on opening day. Although there were only four teams pulling, it was a good show and the stands behind me were packed.

Flagbearer during the opening ceremonies of the sled pulling contest.

Bringing the two horse teams into the arena one team at a time.

These Belgian Draft horses are magnificent looking animals. There are two types of Belgian horses. These are draft or work horses. There are Belgian show horses that perform jumping and dressage also.

The power of the Belgian is shown as they pull a sled weighing 4,000 pounds.

These somewhat lighter horses didn't let the weight of 7,000 plus pounds stop them from pulling the sled the required 27 feet for a full pull.

It takes quite a bit of effort to get the sled moving from a dead stop but these Belgians were up to the task.

A pair of Holsteins spend a little time in the milking station next to their temporary home in the dairy barn.

Most people attending the fair are only there for the rides and the food and they tend to miss the little side streets around the midway.

More rides along the Midway.

Separating a man from his money, a dollar at a time.

Ring Toss

Monday, 6 September 2010 -- Labor Day

After running around Saturday and Sunday, all I had left to do was enjoy a Monday for a change..