Cow About That Fair! Holstein, Sheep Shows Friday At The Grange Fair

WRIGHTSTOWN, PA — So how did the farmer find his cow after she got loose? He "tractor" down.

Patch got a good laugh out of that one thanks to 4-H member Lucas Crooke who included a bunch of cow jokes on a poster hanging in the cow barn at the Middletown Grange Fair.

Nearby, his sister, 9-year-old Abby Crooke of Kitnersville was enjoying some quiet time at the fair with her black and white Holstein named Paste. On Friday morning she'll be competing in the spring calf class in the 4-H Holstein show.

The Holstein show opens the fair on Friday at 10 a.m. in the show arena. The public is invited to watch as a 4-H judge rates this year's herd of dairy cows.

Friday also features a Reptile Show, which slithers into the sheep, goat, and pig barn at 3 p.m. You can then stick around for the sheep show at 4 p.m. in the show arena.

Spike the Bearded Dragon will make an appearance at Friday's Reptile Show. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Pickering Manor's Assisted Living residents in Newtown won "Best of Show" in the Senior Care Community category for their dioramas. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Throughout the day there will be storytime sessions and 4-H crafts for the kids; mule demonstrations and opportunities to Meet the Belgians; horse-drawn wagon rides ($5 fee); tractor games; tractor parade (6:30 p.m.); tractor games; and plenty of opportunities to watch the hugely-popular hot dog pig races.

Friday brings the Penn State Extension back to the fair with its "Ask A Master Gardener" booth. Bring your gardening questions and try to stump the experts.

Don't miss the two large buildings brimming with community and 4-H exhibits, including tables filled with freshly-grown vegetables and fruit. See who won this year's blue ribbons and Grange Fair bragging rights.

And take some time out on Thursday to enjoy the Grange Fair's popular chicken dinner. It will be served from 3 to 8 p.m. in the fair's dining hall.

In the evening, attention turns to the entertainment tent where the group Shameless will be performing classic rock hits from 7 to 10 p.m.

Y'All or Nothin' rocks the entertainment tent Thursday night at the Middletown Grange Fair.

If You Go

Fair Hours on Friday, August 18: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Location: 576 Penns Park Road, Wrightstown 18940.

Admission: No admission to the fair. There is a $20 per car parking fee. Veterans can park for free (with ID). Proceeds from the parking fee benefit the all-volunteer Lingohocken Fire Company and
the Bucks County Fraternal Order of Police.

Weather Forecast: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 am. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 5 to 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall
amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. On Friday night, expect mostly clear skies with a low of around 58. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Amusement Rides: Hours are Wednesday to Friday from 1 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 12 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Rides are $2/ticket (The number of tickets needed per ride varies from 1 to 3 per ride.) each, 12 for $20, 23 for $50 and 64 for $100. A mega pass is available for $50 for all rides, every day. A special all-ride bracelet will also be sold for $30 on Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. and $30 for Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m.

Rules: Dogs will not be allowed unless it is a service dog. This is for the safety of you, the public, the exhibitors, and the livestock at the fair. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are permitted on Grange property. No vulgar language or behavior is permitted on Grange property. And all children must be supervised by an adult.