Adorned with matching gold laurel leaves, Erica Saropian, 19, of Rowland Heights and her 2-year-old goat Cindy dressed the part of “Ben Herd” in the annual Goat Herder’s Costume Contest Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Los Angeles County Fair. In Ring No. 1 of the livestock area of the Fair, five contestants between the ages of 7 and 19 dressed their goats as well as themselves in thematic costumes. Saropian explained that she built and painted the chariot and decorated it with ribbons and grapes. “I tried getting her [Cindy] to wear the leaves around her head, but it is really uncomfortable,” she said, trying to keep Cindy from gnawing on the leaves draped around her body. The duo received second place in the competition, even though Cindy tripped over the bar on the side of the chariot. / photo by Christie ReedPreparing her goat Charmaigne for a walk around the ring, Lauren Docherty, 15, of Romoland in Riverside County, waits inside her stall for the judges to call her number. Docherty dressed as “Paco” in a black pancho and Charmaigne became Paco’s mule, carrying two baskets filled with flowers and fruit on her back. Docherty and Charmaigne placed fifth. / photo by Christie ReedDisplaying his first place ribbon and K’NEX construction kit, Matthew Garcia, 7, of Nuevo, Calif., traveled an hour and a half just to participate in the K’NEX construction contest Sunday, Sept. 14 in the America’s Kids building. His mother, who waited outside the contest area, could not believe that he took first. “He had me mark this day on the calendar,” she said. / photo by Christie ReedWith face full of jelly donut, Jason Jansson, 12, of Covina is no amateur at devouring food the fastest. He and his family, including his father Rick Jansson, have accumulated more than 500 first, second and third place ribbons at the Fair over the years. In the donut eating contest held Sunday, Sept. 14, Jansson took first place. / photo by Christie ReedRachel Kottcamp, 8, of Claremont, stuffs her face in hopes of winning the Midway pass given as first prize in the donut eating contest. Her father, who is holding the donut, encourages her to eat faster. She took first place in the second round of donut eating and her father told her not to wipe her face so that her mother could snap a photograph. Kottcamp also participates in the Brain Quest and Spelling Bees each year at the Fair, and is wearing the Brain Quest t-shirt, hat and button she received this year for her participation. The merchandise reads, “It’s OK to be smart.” / photo by Christie ReedIn a face-off for first place, Marlena Baldonado, 12, of Rancho Cucamonga rotates her hips with two hula hips to demonstrate her talent Sunday, Sept. 14. Her sister Monica, 9, took first place in the first round of hula hooping. / photo by Christie Reed
At the entrance, alongside the Garden Railroad, were 1960s Volkswagen Buses, Beetles and Karmann Ghias lined up to welcome Pomona’s car culture enthusiasts and to represent the German heritage guests were about to walk into.
The Los Angeles County Fair is home to both the bizarre and the fantastic when it comes to the food and the rides that occupy the Fairplex in Pomona during the month of May.
![Adorned with matching gold laurel leaves, Erica Saropian, 19, of Rowland Heights and her 2-year-old goat Cindy dressed the part of "Ben Herd" in the annual Goat Herder's Costume Contest Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Los Angeles County Fair. In Ring No. 1 of the livestock area of the Fair, five contestants between the ages of 7 and 19 dressed their goats as well as themselves in thematic costumes. Saropian explained that she built and painted the chariot and decorated it with ribbons and grapes. "I tried getting her [Cindy] to wear the leaves around her head, but it is really uncomfortable," she said, trying to keep Cindy from gnawing on the leaves draped around her body. The duo received second place in the competition, even though Cindy tripped over the bar on the side of the chariot. / photo by Christie Reed](https://lvcampustimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pp_char.jpg)
