Everyday English · A visit to an agricultural fair in Ontario: walking through the animal barns, watching judging in the show ring, looking at prize exhibits, visiting the midway and staying safe and polite.
At an Agricultural Fair: 16 Everyday English Words
Learn words you hear at a farm fair, such as livestock, barn, stall, judge, ribbon, exhibit and midway, and describe a visit in a few sentences.
What to do
An agricultural fair is a big event where farmers and families show what they grow, raise and make. Ontario has many fairs, from small fall fairs in country towns to large indoor fairs in the city. Agricultural means to do with farming.
Most fairs have barns full of livestock: cows and calves, sheep, goats, pigs and horses, plus chickens and other poultry. Each animal usually has its own stall with hay and water. Many children who show animals belong to youth farm clubs and have cared for their animal for months.
In the show ring, a judge watches the animals walk and decides which ones are best. Winners get ribbons. Other contests are inside the exhibit halls: vegetables, giant pumpkins, honey, quilts, baking and children's art.
The midway is the part of the fair with rides, games and snack stands. Before you go in, you may pay admission and get a map. After touching animals, always wash your hands with soap and water before you eat. These words are here so you understand them when you hear them, not to memorise in one day. Every fair is a little different, so follow the signs and the staff.
Core everyday words
fair
noun · faira big event with animals, contests, food and rides, often held once a year
Example: We went to the fair on Saturday.
agricultural
adjective · ag-rih-KUL-chur-ulto do with farming, crops and farm animals
Example: An agricultural fair shows what farmers grow and raise.
barn
noun · barna large farm building where animals or hay are kept
Example: The cows were in the big red barn.
livestock
noun · LYVE-stokfarm animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, goats and horses
Example: The livestock barns were full of animals.
calf
noun · kafa young cow (plural: calves)
Example: The calf stayed close to its mother.
stall
noun · stawla small space in a barn for one animal; also a small booth that sells things
Example: Each horse had its own stall.
hay
noun · haydried grass that is fed to animals
Example: The goats were munching on hay.
judge
noun · juja person who decides which entry in a contest is best
Example: The judge looked closely at each pumpkin.
ribbon
noun · RIB-una coloured strip of cloth given as a prize; the colour shows which place the entry won
Example: The sheep won a ribbon for second place.
show ring
noun phrase · SHOH ringa fenced area where animals are shown to judges and the crowd
Example: The girl led her calf around the show ring.
exhibit
noun · eg-ZIB-itsomething put out for people to look at, such as vegetables, quilts or baking
Example: The honey exhibit had jars of every colour.
petting zoo
noun phrase · PET-ing zooan area where children can gently touch tame animals
Example: We fed the goats at the petting zoo.
midway
noun · MID-waythe part of a fair with rides, games and snack stands
Example: The Ferris wheel is on the midway.
admission
noun · ad-MISH-unthe price or permission to get into an event
Example: Admission is free for children under five.
wash your hands
phrase · WOSH yor HANDZclean your hands with soap and water, especially after touching animals
Example: Always wash your hands after the petting zoo.
map
noun · mapa drawing that shows where places are
Example: We checked the fair map to find the horse barn.
Recognise the word
Recognise the word
Choose the meaning or the word that fits.
1. What does livestock mean?
- the food sold at a snack stand
- the rides at a fair
- a store that sells stockings
- farm animals such as cows, sheep and pigs
2. What does a judge do at a fair?
- decides which entry in a contest is best
- sells tickets at the gate
- drives the rides
- feeds the animals every morning
3. Where would you most likely find a Ferris wheel and game booths?
- in the barn
- in the show ring
- on the midway
- at the petting zoo
4. What is hay?
- a greeting you say to a horse
- dried grass fed to animals
- a kind of ribbon
- the fence around a stall
5. A calf is …
- a young horse
- a young sheep
- a young cow
- the back of your leg only
6. What does admission mean on a fair sign?
- the price or permission to get in
- the time the fair closes
- the list of contest winners
- the place to wash your hands
Use the word in a situation
Use the word in a situation
Pick the word that fits the scene.
7. "You just touched the goats. Please ___ before you eat your corn."
- check the map
- stay in the show ring
- wash your hands
- pay admission
8. "Each horse has its own ___ in the barn, with hay and water."
- midway
- stall
- ribbon
- exhibit
9. "Our quilt won second place, so it got a ___."
- halter
- ribbon
- barn
- calf
10. "The farm-club members led their calves into the ___ so the judge could see them walk."
- show ring
- petting zoo
- midway
- map
11. "The baking exhibit is in Hall B." What will you see in Hall B?
- an oven you can use
- a baking class you must join
- baked goods set out for people to look at
- the fair's lost and found
12. You lose your family near the barns. What is the best thing to do?
- go to the information booth or your meeting spot
- go on a ride and wait
- climb into a stall to look around
- leave the fair to find the car
Quick-check answers
- 1. farm animals such as cows, sheep and pigs
Livestock are farm animals. Snack stands and rides are on the midway, and the word has nothing to do with stockings. - 2. decides which entry in a contest is best
A judge compares the entries and picks winners. Ticket sellers, ride operators and farmers do the other jobs. - 3. on the midway
The midway is the area with rides, games and snacks. Barns hold animals, the show ring is for judging, and the petting zoo has tame animals. - 4. dried grass fed to animals
Hay is dried grass. It sounds like hey, the greeting, but it is spelled differently and means food for animals. - 5. a young cow
At a fair, a calf is a young cow. A young horse is a foal and a young sheep is a lamb. Calf can also name the back of your lower leg, but that is not the meaning here. - 6. the price or permission to get in
Admission is about getting in, often with a price. Closing times, winner lists and hand-washing stations are posted separately. - 7. wash your hands
After touching animals, wash your hands with soap and water before eating. The map, the show ring and admission do not clean your hands. - 8. stall
A stall is a small space for one animal. A ribbon is a prize, the midway has rides, and an exhibit is something on display. - 9. ribbon
Ribbons are prizes in fair contests. A halter is for leading an animal, a barn is a building, and a calf is an animal. - 10. show ring
Animals are shown to judges in the show ring. The petting zoo is for touching tame animals, and the midway has rides. - 11. baked goods set out for people to look at
An exhibit is a display. You look at the entries; you do not cook or take a class there. - 12. go to the information booth or your meeting spot
Staff at the information booth can help, and a meeting spot is planned for exactly this. Rides, stalls and the parking lot are not safe places to wait.