The Westminster television show was a masterful production, timed to perfection with the announcer and play by play guy saying all sorts of exciting things like, "This Great Dane really knows how to connect with the crowd, doesn't he Charles?", as this huge dog gallops like a run-a-way train around the ring, dragging his handler behind him as the audience erupts in applause.



As great as this show was, I miss the livestock shows at county fairs. It's exciting to watch the owner a of a prized cow nervously currying and curling the hair of a beautiful white faced heifer as he or she nervously await their time with the judges. The straw and manure of the stables always lent a not unpleasant aroma around the stalls of the contestants. This added feature is not allowed at most dog shows.

Though the hour was late, most of America that was still awake at the time of the final judging for Best of Show, cheered for the Beagle named Uno! This was the first time the breed had ever won the top honor at this glitzy show, making this an historic occasion. The crowd was on its feet with a standing ovation while Uno did his part by howling and barking at the crowd. Great TV!

There are still county and state fairs that show farm animals, but they're nothing like the ones I visited in younger years. When I was growing up folks took their county fairs seriously and at a young age began raising, grooming and training their animals in hopes that someday one would take home the blue ribbon! Farm animals from sheep to mules were are entered into these county wide contests.

It's not easy to groom a mule! Some days old blue just doesn't want his mane blown dry by a hair dryer! That's when he kicks and bites. Most mule skinners will say a goat is easier to train walk show- style than a mule. It's a fact that a mule trains its owner in the steps of a show.

One glaring difference between the Westminster Kennel Dog Show and the average county fair of my youth, are the competing aromas of the animal exhibits at the fair. The dog shows I've seen on television never show one of those pampered mutts urinating or worse on the feet of the judges. Not so with a cow or horse. I've never really given much thought of how to train a cow to use a newspaper at the appropriate time, because they're really free spirits and when nature calls, they go.

The pig event at county fairs is always a big thrill. Often today these events are sponsored by local 4-H clubs or FFA chapters. There are kids of all ages walking their pigs around the arena just like pooches do at the kennel show. The difference is the dogs are usually well behaved and strut around the track with their handlers.

You don't really train a pig. Swine have their own free spirit genes and often you'll see pure chaos in the area with owners chasing their pigs before they can escape out the door. My farming cousins also tell me that for all their joy of rolling in the mud, pigs really don't like to take a bath.

Cows on the other hand, seem to appreciate being clipped and manicured. They love to be pampered with a shower and good smelling soaps and shampoos. Old Bessie especially loves having her hair blown dried and curled for the judges.

There's a huge audience for The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Shoe. Millions watched the little beagle being crowned king of the show. If county fairs were televised, fewer folks would have to clean their shoes before coming into the house!