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Section Two Wednesday, August 28,1985 y ,/ ; kJ-- U U/ t 'J iJ'-i,s%'J \Z r;]) yr n r : A: z'njflù J t v w yy xLy rva \ \ 'Hx i no /i j /> f - jiy i)mlj Æ fi •J *• "N,y ' '..t'V' v. A =y «A» sm--ej» xLx ' ; / i J l. ' J1 u Byline... By Peter Parrott You probably think those thosands of people who braved Saturday's cold and drizzle at the Black- stock Fair came to see the championship livestock, the commercial commercial exhibits, the midway, midway, or the clog dancers. But I suspect that the thing which keeps them coming back year after year is the world-famous world-famous media milking contest. This was formerly known as the cow milking milking contest until last year when the organizers organizers of the event decided to liven it up by introducing introducing a new species of animal. Last year, the local media milking stars grappled with goats. So it was with some trepe- dation that I approached approached this year's event. The good news was that this year the goats stayed home. The bad news was that the animal used for the 1985 competition was short, and pink, with bristles and a curly tail. Its meat is also a favorite on Sunday Sunday morning-breakfast tables alongside eggs. Yes, that's right, this year's media milking „ -, magnates were given a Five-year-old Rhys Ken dell, of Blackstock, was one of the youngest riders pig, a plastic glove and in the saddle horse competitions. He is shown above, with his pony, Misty. a styrofoam cup. "What's this cow's name?" asked one of the participants as wq headed towards the metal cage on a trailer which carried the victim. victim. The crowd snickered. snickered. There are some advantages advantages to milking pigs. For one thing, they're short. In addition, addition, they come equipped equipped with plenty of faucets outlets or whatever whatever you want to call them. There were more outlets, in fact, than a lighting fixture store. The pig was divided into four quarters and each contestant was free to milk in that general general vicinity, using as many faucets as desired. desired. There are, however, some disadvantages to pigs in milking contests. contests. For one thing, the milk doesn't squirt out clearly but tends to spray in umpteen different different directions, like water from a lawn sprinkler. I might add that "Mrs. . Piggy", who was the real star of the event was not entirely cooperative. cooperative. Harvey Graham, and the rest of the organizers were wildly optimistic when they gave us styrofoam cups for milk pails. To make matters worse, "Mrs. Piggy" had a tendency to oink angrily angrily and shake her snout i,u a threatening way towardsfhe contestants. contestants. "Pigs don't bite," I told myself, as I tried to aim the milk into the cup. "Yes, they do," I recalled recalled from my childhood childhood on the farm. I was cautious each time "Mrs. Piggy" shook her snout in my general direction. Maybe that accounts for my third- place showing (or was it fourth?) Anyhow, congratulations congratulations are in order for Scugog Mayor Jerry Taylor who filled.in for some of the missing media contestants and walked away with first prize. Runner-up was John McLelland, editor of the Port Perry Star. He's been trying to win this contest ever since it started five years ago but we won't mention that, will we. Anyhow, he once again turned in a very creditable performance. performance. As for myself and Moira Fallis, a director director of the Blackstock Fair, we were relegated to the role of also-rans. Never mind, there are worse things in this world than finishing at the tail end of the annual annual Blackstock Fair media milking championships. championships. Besides, I'm planning to lauch a formal complaint complaint to animal welfare welfare authorities concerning concerning the mistreatment mistreatment of that species of creature known as the community newspaper Journalist. The fair organizers have managed to demolish demolish our dignity. Or, put it this way: When you've milked a pig in front of a grandstand the amount of dignity left could quite easily fit into a styrofoam cup. But, seriously, folks, it was all in good fun. And the event was just a fragment of what is surely among the best one-day fairs in all of Ontario. I can hardly wait until next year. The weather may have been rainy and overcast. But that didn't stop many visitors from enjoying the midway at the Blackstock Fair. In the category of toe-tapping entertainment, to offer. The group is shown here as it performs the Ontario Rhythm Cloggers had plenty of talent in the Blackstock Arena. Contestants from one of the many harness horse competitions line up their entries for judging. I his Holstein owned by the DcJongs, of Nestle- above are brothers Norman, Brian, and Ivan De >n, captured the junior championship heifer Jong. ton, captured the junior championship heifer Jong, award at this year's 120th Blackstock Fair. Shown ... . - their candy as they watch some of the events from candy floss from the Midway. Jennifer, Matthew the grandstand, and Joshua Moses, all of Blackstock, are enjoying