Horsing Around at the County Fair

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Horsing Around at the County Fair
Jackie Camacho, an animal science major, shows off an Arabian mare at the L.A. County Fair.

Cal Poly Pomona is getting in on the fun at the Los Angeles County Fair. Every year, students, faculty and staff have important roles at the Fair, from supplying farm animals to judging wines to giving horse demonstrations.

The Fair, which is held at Fairplex in Pomona, runs from Sept. 5 to 28 and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you go, be sure to check out these Cal Poly Pomona-related activities. For more information, including directions, schedules and ticket prices, visit www.lacountyfair.com.

  • The College of Agriculture supplies about 250 animals for the livestock show, petting zoo, sheep shearing demonstrations and maternity barn. The petting zoo has about 100 calves, goats and sheep. During the course of the Fair, about 30 goats, sheep and cows will give birth in the maternity barn. Fairgoers learn about the birthing process and can also watch baby animals feed from a bottle.   
  • Collins College Professor Dr. Bob Small's “Dr. Bob's Handcrafted Ice Cream” is available in the Fairview Farms area, across from the Big Red Barn. The ice cream stand is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.   
  • The Arabian Horse Center will present two shows on Sept. 17-18 at 2 p.m. in the Horse Show Arena. English and Western riders will give jumping demonstrations, do tricks and show off their training and handling abilities.   
  • Collins College professors Dr. Bob Small and Margie Jones teach a couple of wine education classes at the Los Angeles Wine International Wine & Spirits Marketplace. For a complete schedule, visit www.lawinecomp.com/wine2008/2008WineClasses.htm.   
  • The Los Robles Horticulture club installed a landscape for the Educational Landscape Gardens in the theme of “Escape to Hawaii — An Enchanting Island Experience.” Students designed a garden to represent island life and installed donated plants into a 12 foot by 20 foot plot.  
  • Enjoy muffin-sized vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes by CBS Cupcakes, started by Collins College alumna Sara Houk. Look for their distinctive white, black and pink trailer in California's Heritage Square.   
  • On the first day of the Fair, students showed an Arabian horse named “Shame On U” at Redwood Court as part of the “Hoofprints: The Horse in Art, Legend and Action” exhibit. Dressed in traditional Arabian costume, Cal Poly Pomona senior Jackie Camacho allowed visitors to pet the 15-year-old mare and answered questions about the breed.