Leila El Sabbagh
Sports Editor
Since 1922, the Los Angeles County Fair has been home to a variety of attractions. The fair not only has rides and food, but plenty of animals that guests can get up close and personal with.
The farm and gardens, located near the back of the Fairplex in Pomona, is home to plenty of animals like pigs, goats, sheep, cows and horses. The absence of chickens and dairy cows were due to the spread of H5N1 Bird Flu in California.
The Big Red Barn and services were provided by the Huntley College of Agriculture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
“Most of the bottle feeding ones (goats) I have strong connections with,” Madison Carranza, a Cal Poly Pomona volunteer, said. “One’s name is Little Peppa Steppa, I’ve been feeding him for I think two days. I’ve really gotten attached.”
Plenty of the animals were laid back in the shade due to the extreme weather, with highs of 102 degrees Fahrenheit from noon to 6 p.m.
Alongside the walls of the barn were plenty more goats to be seen right when you step in. Towards the center were piglets accompanied by their sow, snuggled up against the fence of the enclosure.
“One of my favorite parts of the fair is seeing the animals,” visitor Amy Fitzgerald said. “I would like to see more accessibility to being closer to them. Maybe more feeding stations.”
Near the back corner of the barn was a Petting Farm where guests could experience small goats and sheep running around and feel their thick coats in the heat. Guests could also purchase $3 cups of food to feed the animals.
Small children accompanied by their parents had a hard time getting further into the enclosure due to eager and hungry goats and sheep.
Nevertheless, plenty of fun was to be had watching each animal prance from guest to guest trying to get their fill on food. If any of the animals saw you did not have any, they would simply move on to find food elsewhere.
Barnyard racing pig races took place from noon to 10 p.m. towards the back corner of the Grandstand where little pigs would race for a small Oreo cookie as their prize.
A breeding sheep show at the competition barn was held at 1 p.m. to crown the most regal sheep and award them with a blue ribbon.
Fair goer Brianna Ramirez shared her animal experience with her young niece, showing her different baby animals.
“She loves the animals, it just makes me happy to see her very excited. I love animals too so whenever I get to visit them it’s very fun,” Ramirez said.
More bottle feeding took place throughout the day for guests to watch as well as the Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association Bee and Honey Display. Horses could also be seen prancing around their stable towards the back of The Farm and Gardens section.
Thummer made short appearances due to the heat, greeting guests and taking pictures to commemorate their time at the fair.
“I’ve been working for Cal Poly for about four years, since I started at the school,” Cal Poly Pomona volunteer Sky Rodriguez said. “It’s pretty fun. I like being with the animals and taking care of them, making sure people don’t ride them, things like that.”
The animals were continuously out during the day with often check-ins from different volunteers and workers, doing the best they could to give them proper care in the heat.
Animals will continue to be showcased for the remainder of the fair, until May 26 with weather conditions looking cooler for them to be moving around in their respective enclosures.
Leila El Sabbagh can be reached at leila.elsabbagh@laverne.edu.
Leila El Sabbagh is the sports editor for the Campus Times. She is a sophomore journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism who aspires to be a sports broadcaster. She has previously served as a staff writer for the Campus Times.
