The California State Fair returned in full force this summer for the first time in three years, but participating farmers are still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Fair offers livestock shows and competitions throughout its 17-day run, showcasing animals that range from guinea pigs to 2,000-pound cattle. The livestock available for view rotate based on the fair’s show schedule, with several groups of animals typically on display in the Livestock Pavilion on any given day.
For returning farmers, the fair typically means reuniting with the same cohort of family farmers year over year. Goat farmer Dylan Howell compared the social scene among farmers to the 2000 mockumentary “Best in Show,” adding that while everyone generally gets along well, “occasionally you get those crazy goat moms.”
