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Washington Evening Journal
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Jefferson County Fair features petting zoo, pig races
FAIRFIELD — The Greater Jefferson County Fair provides plenty of free entertainment, one of the perks that residents have come to enjoy each June when the fairgrounds opens its doors to thousands of visitors.
The entertainment changes from year to year, as the Jefferson County Fair Board seeks to offer fairgoers a fun and novel experience. One of the free acts that performed this year was making its first ever stop at the Greater Jefferson County Fair, and that was the All-Star Barnyard Revue.
It’s been a few years since Fairfield has hosted a petting zoo. It was not among the attractions last year, and the 2020 fair was a bare-bones event with only 4-H and FFA exhibitions but no grandstand entertainment, entertainment and a small selection of vendors.
All-Star Barnyard Revue made the trip all the way from Tampa, Florida. After its week in Fairfield, the petting zoo will travel to Morris, Illinois, for the Grundy County Fair, before returning to Iowa for the Central Iowa Fair in Marshalltown July 13-16, followed by a whirlwind tour of the country the rest of the fair season with stops in West Virginia, New York, Maryland and Texas.
Sierra Timberlake said she and her family run All-Star Barnyard Revue, and they’ve always had a passion for putting a smile on a child’s face.
“I’m the eighth generation in the circus, so this runs in our blood,” Timberlake said.
The start of fair week was beset by extremely high temperatures that neared triple digits. Timberlake said she’s used to handling the heat since the business performs at fairs all over the country. On very hot days, the staff puts the animals under a fan or sprays them with a cooling mist. This is especially important for the woolly animals like their alpaca “Ms. Snow.”
The All-Star Barnyard Revue includes 15 goats, four of which perform by jumping hurdles and walking on a tight wire. Timberlake said it’s surprisingly easy to train goats to walk on a tight wire because they’re used to climbing steep mountains where good balance is of paramount concern.
The barnyard also has miniature cattle, such a longhorn and a zebu, sheep, and a giant tortoise named “Jimmy” who weighs 100 pounds.
Perhaps the highlight of the All-Star Barnyard Revue are the pig races, which are put on three times per day. These involve getting pigs to run around the outside of a grass track. Motivating the pigs to come in first is a plate of Oreo cookies waiting for them at the finish line. The pigs show off their hoof-eye coordination by completing the race through obstacles and hurdles, too.
“People love the races so much,” Timberlake said. “Little kids will run with the pigs around the outside. It’s so fun.”
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
It’s off to the races for these three little piggies, who performed three times a day during the Greater Jefferson County Fair. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Sierra Timberlake of the All-Star Barnyard Revue feeds an ice cream cone filled with grain to her goat “Obi,” one of 15 goats the company brought to the Greater Jefferson County Fair. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
One of the noteworthy attractions at the Greater Jefferson County Fair in Fairfield was a chance to see this 100-pound giant tortoise named “Jimmy” at the All-Star Barnyard Revue’s petting zoo. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
This alpaca, named “Ms. Snow,” tries to beat the heat by conserving her energy in a nice shaded spot at the All-Star Barnyard Revue’s petting zoo at the Greater Jefferson County Fair. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Four-year-old Barry Murphey tosses bean bags into an Operation-style game set up during the Greater Jefferson County Fair Thursday. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
It’s a dirty job but somebody’s got to do it, and those “somebodies” are 4-H members and Clover Kids who kept the Jefferson County Fairgrounds looking nice all week by picking up trash. Here, Michelle Manning, left, co-leader of the Lending Hands 4-H Club, opens a trash bag for Sophia Forrest, a member of Clover Kids. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
