That’s some crazy chick

Today I did succeed in getting out of the house. I went to the Balmoral Show, which is NI’s big agricultural show/fair/breed competition rolled into one. On the continuing theme of irony, I was starved when I got there and immediately visited the food tent to get something to eat. The Balmoral Show is essentially celebrating those who raise beef, pork, and poultry. So a veggie wrap just wasn’t on. The lack of options forced me to ask myself, what am I doing here? The answer, ironically, is I love animals. There are so many beautiful and curious creatures here--acres of pen-filled tents with goats, rabbits, chickens, cows, and pigs of more varieties than the mind can fully comprehend. I love looking at their lovely plumage and shiny coats and I try not to think about what fate lies ahead for them. My guess is a lot of these are breeding stock, so don’t get eaten in the near future.

Pictures, I hear you say. We want pictures!!

I felt bad for the poor cows weighed down by gorged udders. Maybe it helps their score, but that can’t be comfortable.

These guys were the supreme champions of the 2014 Great Yorkshire Show in the Gloucestershire Old Spot breed category:

The cocks and hens were probably the most dramatic.

Some of them looked straight out of Dr. Seuss.


One more.

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