Whether yo go for the fried dough, livestock, horticulture or rides, the Chenango County Fair has something to offer everyone.

That’s what we discovered yesterday as we walked through the crowded fairgrounds. After eating an entirely unhealthy lunch of fried food and ice cream, we took a trip through the exhibition hall to see what treasures awaited us.

Besides the usual sights, in approximately 15 minutes, we were able to sign up to win a television, an iPod, a new washer and dryer, a couple houses (which we do not yet own) full of windows, food for restaurants that are not available within 40 miles and of course $50,000 in home improvements for those houses we still do not own. We also managed to score a free back pack, a year’s supply of writing utensils, a fan, which was appreciated in yesterday’s 90 degree temperatures and a couple free tickets for rides.

Neither of us had gone on the rides at the fair since our younger days, and the minute we scored the tickets, we began giggling and running around the fair like a couple of five-year-olds. (Which shows yet another thing the fair offers free of charge – the chance to be a kid again.) The following is a play-by-play description of the day’s events.