In the US we are accustomed to  big annual State Fairs.  Held on sites that are specifically designed for the event, complete with permanent buildings for various types of entries, they boast everything from First Aid demonstrations to tractor-pulling contests, from pot-bellied pigs to pots of strawberry jam.  Frequently they are more carnival than agricultural, featuring as many rides, races and vendors as there are prize bulls, perfect pies and large pumpkins.

The American county fairs are much more numerous and much smaller in scale.  For instance, in Connecticut this year there are thirty-two small fairs scheduled, mostly in the autumn.  These fairs emphasize animals and produce, with fewer rides and midways.  One thing that is common to both the large and small fairs in the US is that there is always competition involved: who has the tastiest cream pie?  The largest unblemished tomatoes?  Whose horse can drag the heaviest sledge?

The agricultural fairs here in Italy tend to be more like the county fairs in the US.  They focus on a particular theme and stick pretty close to it.  For instance, we recently attended the Fiere del Bestiame e Agricultura in the Santa Maria section of Rapallo (Animal and Agriculture Fair).  It is a small fair, held along the banks of the  Torrente San Maria, and it is always a delight.  The big tree and shrub fair comes to Rapallo in January.  This April fair is for buying chicks, ducks, turkeys, geese, goats and sheep; for buying flower plants; and for dreaming about a new piece of equipment for your farm.  It also gives the local woodsmen a chance to compete in various wood-cutting skills, felling temporary trees and limbing downed trees (this is the only competition I’ve seen at an Italian fair yet).

Like every fair in Italy there are also ‘bancarelle’ (stalls) selling food, fabric, hardware and jewelry.

One of our favorites is the man who sells a sweet wafer from Tuscany.  The machine that makes the wafer is so complex, the product so simple.  It reminds us a bit of an elaborate tortilla-press.  Best of all, the vendor gives samples of his product, a delicate, slightly anise-flavored treat, Tuscany’s sweet answer to the potato chip.

I’m crazy about the animals.  The goats and sheep always look like they’ve just heard a very good joke, but they’re not going to share it with you.

Some of the chickens look annoyed, especially those wearing feather skirts, and some simply look foolish.  The bunnies are adorable, and are always mobbed by small children who want to pat them.  Baby fowl of all ilk are sweet when they’re fuzzy, yellow and young.  If you’d like to see photos of a few more of the animals, click here and select slide show.  The one picture I wanted and didn’t get was of the bee-hive between two sheets of glass, so you can see the hive being built and all the bees buzzing around.  Come to think of it, I saw a similar display the last time I visited the Addison County Fair in Vermont.  Bloomin’ Onion, anyone?