NATURE / OUTDOORS
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THE MARYLAND STATE FAIR

	The State Fair opened today, and Jeb, Mark and I went when they first opened at 10:00 AM.  This guy had over 100 turkey legs cooking on the grill.  The smells of the Fair are great, except when you are around the barns.
	All kinds of wonderful food, drinks, entertainment, booths, displays, rides, horse-racing and 4-H stuff.
	My niece, Amanda Harvey had formal, English equestrian events in the afternoon, so we stopped by to wish her luck.  She had just finished grooming her horse and was ready to watch other, morning equestrian events.
	Much like our bathtub at home.
	We tasted regional and Maryland honey, and local honey that was derived from thistle, clover, locust and others.  You could really tell the differences from what the bees were feeding on.  We purchased a bottle of spring fresh, Baltimore County, black locust honey.  Excellent.
	Jeb and Mark encourage Tyler Hooper and Katherine Robinson of Dayton 4-H, who had morning shift, greeting visitors to the 4-H Crafts (air-conditioned) Building.
	Because the Howard County Gun Club had Champion booth and banner at the Howard County Fair, we were allowed to show and compete at the State Fair.
	Way to go Gun Club!
	MD DNR had a great aquarium display of a piedmont stream and the various dace, shiners, chubs and minnows that occur in small streams.  This display said "Danger,  Baby Rattlers"  and when you looked inside you saw two, one pink and one yellow, infant baby rattles.  Not funny.

They had a line 50-deep to get your photo taken, milking a cow.  The cost $2.00.  What a racket. 
Maybe we should do this next year at our County Fair?

Submitted by Mark Burchick