SHEEP RUN

August 5th is a date that has been circled on my calendar for several weeks now.  This was the date of the first ever Sonoma County Fair Sheep Run.  Being a major ovineophile I had visions of hundreds of sheep running down the city streets bleating, with sheep dogs keeping them in check.  My friend Ginger and I have been talking about this event for weeks at work.  So, today was the day!  We decided not to get up extra early and go for the 8 AM pancake breakfast downtown, opting, instead, to walk from my house over to South E Street, which was the route the sheep would be taking on their run to the Fairgrounds. 

Ginger and others waiting for the Sheep Run to begin.

There weren't too many of us waiting, which was another reason to not go downtown; I don't enjoy crowds.  We waited and waited and finally heard the sound of an air horn.  We knew they were coming.  The parade was led by a police car and followed by a Semi (source of the air horn) with the band playing "76 Trombones."

NOT 76 trombones

Ginger made a movie of the whole thing

Then we got excited because we could see the sheep herding dogs coming.

A mobile sheep pen?  Really?

Sheep!  (not running)

Sheep!

Sheep!  (not many)

(Cute) Sheep!

Cute 4H Sheep

The 4H lamb sales ended this last week at the Fair.  One girl's lamb got the highest prices ever at the Fair -  $6,765 ($55/lb).  Many of these 4H kids save their Fair money and use it to fund going to college.

Then we had the parade of horses.  Not sure what the criteria was to be in the parade but it was nice to see these beautiful horses anyway.

This is the first that I knew we had a Miss Wine Country Rodeo.  It does remind one that we live in an agricultural county.

Awesome BIG draft horses.

And then...TRACTORS!

This guy is a McCormick FARMALL from 1941.  He didn't move very fast.

And this one is the FARMALL CUB.  Top speed about 2 MPH.

Poppin' Johnnie.  Also a slow mover but great sounds.

Not sure what this one is but it's been around awhile!

And the parade ended with a big modern tractor.

Well, this was no Pamplona but it was pretty fun.  We hope next year if they do the sheep run again they will have LOTS MORE SHEEP and let them just run and be herded by dogs. 

Audrey