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Post by Rob on Feb 29, 2012 20:51:46 GMT
Great report K! A real cornucopia!
Why cats and dogs? I used to have a dairy farm and I've never been to one that didn't have hard working cats and dogs as part of the farm.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 29, 2012 21:15:02 GMT
oh, okay Rob, I can understand that. Cats keep the rodent population in control and dogs are used to work with sheep etc., I just did not see them being on the commercial theme of the exhibition.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 21:31:48 GMT
But the dogs and cats at the expo were just there as pets -- so to me, they were inappropriate. But lots of others things were as well. I don't know what the code is for exhibitions of this sort, but it appears that just about any merchant willing to pay with even the thinnest excuse can get the opportunity to put up a stand.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 1, 2012 1:42:20 GMT
I can imagine that the chick incubator exhibit must have a line up like when entering the Louvre trying to find the Mona Lisa. ;D ;D ;D I would want to meet up with Bixa at the Beer and gardening stands! Yes, yes -- and after that let's check out the herbs & spices, then have a sausage snack! I felt the vegetarianism induced by the earlier part of the thread ebbing away in the face of those incredible sausages. Re: the logic behind exhibitions -- my teeny bit of knowlege is that expositions such as this one, or giant fairs & festivals, or those gentrified re-dos such as Jax Brewery in New Orleans all have hired specialists whose job is to prevent too much duplication. I.e., there might be only one soft-serve ice cream place. For fairs, I know prospective exhibitors have to submit ahead of time, as do merchants. Maybe the junky souvenirs (not the ceramic cows -- they weren't junky!) were considered examples of rustic folk craft. As for the dogs & cats, maybe they are show animals, just as some of those rabbits & fowl are for showing. Whatever -- this is all hugely enjoyable & I greatly admire your recognizing the event as excellent thread fare.
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Post by Parigi on Mar 3, 2012 23:39:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2012 11:50:15 GMT
Yes, I read his excellent report when it came out. We may have been shouldering each other out of the way to take our pictures. (If you like the site, I certainly hope that you will participate!)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 21:46:57 GMT
I am struggling with myself about this year's salon. I want to go there, but I have too many other plans, so I don't think it will be this year. But next year I will go there for sure.
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Post by lagatta on Feb 27, 2014 0:38:43 GMT
I'm glad you posted though, as if not I'd have never seen your report two years ago - I think I was working at a conference then.
Such pretty goats. I'd have too many questions otherwise to single them out.
I remember, volunteering (as an interpreter) at the European Social Forum in Paris, how much I liked the incredible food court, for such an event, featuring farmers from all the regions in L'Union paysanne. I was partaking in superb Alsatian wine for 1 euro for a rather large gobelet - which would often get refilled. I did buy a couple of bottles and have to carry them around for a while. As interpeters, we had coupons for the food court, yep, including the wine.
Some social fora in other countries would feature (bad) vegan fare and kombucha or smoothies... (Nothing against vegan fare if it is South Indian!)
I like the heavy horses too, Mich.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 27, 2014 18:24:09 GMT
I would gladly stand in for you this year Kerouac, I could do no justice to your thread skills, but I would be willing to try! I am sure you will bring us something else to enjoy.
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Post by lagatta on Mar 2, 2014 23:22:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 6:25:18 GMT
I returned after 3 years, but this time my visit was not as complete as the first time. I basically just looked at the farm animals and the food and skipped the horses, dogs, cats, gardening and farming equipment and all of the professions related to that industry. However, I would have loved to see the new milking machine that is being introduced. The cows are free to do cow stuff all day, and they decide when they want to be milked by walking over to the machine which recognises exactly which cow it is and knows the configuration of the udders for the robotic attachment to move into place. The machine also knows exactly how much milk to expect per cow. Unfortunately, I only saw the machine at work on television.
Anyway, here is a bit of video about the animals.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 7:21:52 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Feb 28, 2015 14:30:20 GMT
That was a lovely walk around the different stalls and cages. I felt very sorry for the mother pigs. Those babies were rough...! My father was a farmer so during my school holidays it was always a delight to try and catch a new born baby piglet and hold onto it as it squirmed and yelled! They are just the cutest little things.
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Post by htmb on Feb 28, 2015 20:27:15 GMT
I'm surprised you returned, even after three years. You certainly did a very thorough job of covering the show in the first part of your report. The exhibition looks like it covers a huge amount of space. Nice pictures!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 20:39:25 GMT
A lot of people go every year, especially if they have never lived in a rural area -- and others because they used to. I think it is basically impossible to explain, but when you live in a city like Paris, there is a very strange attraction to smelling the aroma of a barnyard. It takes me back to my childhood in a flash, even if I don't like seeing all of the animals tied up or caged in tiny areas. But it only lasts one week, so it is not exactly torture, especially since they are all groomed daily and fed their favourite treats, which is probably something that does not happen at "home."
And I confess that I am touched to see the excitement of so many of the farmers from the far reaches of France to be appreciated in the big city which usually ignores and/or disdains them. A huge number of the exhibits and animals are shown by agricultural high schools, and it is wonderful to see their pride in what they do, which is something much more useful than in a lot of the Parisian high schools specialised in arts and letters (not that I have anything against that since it corresponds much more to my life than farming).
I think it would be super interesting if the big cities of France had an annual show in rural France of the sort of things that they do and of the challenges of urban life, because it would help the two different parts of France to understand each other a whole hell of a lot more.
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Post by htmb on Feb 28, 2015 21:16:31 GMT
I would have probably spent most of my time in the animal areas. The food sections would have bored me to death. When I was little my parents would always take me to the Florida State Fair. It was a large exhibition for its day, but certainly would pale dramatically in comparison to what you've shown. I remember there being large displays of fresh Florida produce and we always had to tour the citrus area. The animals were my favorite part of the exhibit though, and I loved seeing the Clydesdales and Percherons.
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Post by htmb on Feb 28, 2015 21:32:54 GMT
Now that I think about it. I'd even participated in out local county fair a few times. I had totally forgotten.
It's not easy to photograph squirmy animals, but you've got some nice pictures and the video is super, as well.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 21:45:12 GMT
There is a video coming of the food section, but I will put it in "On the menu."
I am already regretting that I did not spend more time there (the whole salon, not the food section), but I suddenly pooped out at a certain point, and it was all more crowded than I expected because I chose the wrong day.
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Post by htmb on Feb 28, 2015 21:48:26 GMT
The crowds would have gotten to me. I'm getting more averse to being packed into crowded spaces in my old age. I'll do it when necessary, but would rather outwit the masses when possible.
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Post by mossie on Mar 3, 2015 19:39:49 GMT
Here we have annual County Shows where people compete to have their animals and produce judged. They are great social occasions for the rural communities, they can see and buy the trendiest hunting shooting and fishing gear and all sorts of associated junk, sorry, goodies, not to mention fashionable country clothing. The agricultural machinery people can show off and hopefully sell, the latest farm equipment. Boys and some girls of all ages can clamber over tractors and pretend to drive them, and there are generally little petting areas for the youngsters to get up close to lambs or similar. Even the local car dealers get in on the act. A large refreshment tent where salesman can entertain customers is a prominent feature. There is a parade ring where the prize animals are judged and various displays are given. It will be opened by some personality, quite often for the larger shows, one of the Royals will turn up. I have been to the Suffolk Show a few times, but they tend to follow a traditional pattern. When, in 1948, I worked on the farm down in Kent we were taken to the second day of the show. I should mention that they are normally two day affairs, the first day for the nobs and bosses, the second for the hoi polloi. The day I went Winston Churchill was guest of honour, it was the only time I had seen him and I was shocked that his cheeks looked like slices of raw steak. He was reputed to drink more than a bottle of spirits a day, let alone smoke several cigars, but he had kept sober enough to inspire us during the war. I cannot let this go without reciting a Churchill anecdote from that time. A certain prominent lady Labour MP reprimanded him in the House of Commons saying, "Winston you are drunk". To which his reply was "Yes, madam, I may be now, but I will be sober in the morning. But you madam, are ugly"
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Post by tod2 on Mar 4, 2015 6:15:38 GMT
I used to enjoy our local Royal Agricultural Show. My father used to enter his homemade marmalade and other jams in the Produce section. He missed the big silver cup by one point but took it in good spirit. The police usually to put on a display of dog handling and the aerobatic team always gives a wonderful display overhead. There is also cattle judging etc., and showjumping. We have many halls with vendors displaying their goods, like carpets, pots & pans, the latest kitchen gadgets, even artwork and hobbies. It seems to be a repeat of the same old thing year in and year out and of course one avoids the place on "school outing" days! I haven't been for two or three years so might be persuaded this year if it's not too chilly.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 6:53:14 GMT
Besides the Salon de l'Agriculture, Paris also has the "Foire de Paris" trade show where absolutely everything under the sun is sold. The special section that is the most popular is the 'Concours Lépine' which is a competition for the best invention of year, many of which are ridiculous or useless.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 4, 2015 14:23:28 GMT
I enjoyed viewing those wacky inventions....some were quite good! Will you be going this year Kerouac? Paris Fair 2015 will be held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from April 29 to May 10.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 14:40:22 GMT
I have not been to it for at least 30 years so I am sure to go sooner or later.
Actually, the Concours Lépine is where the ball point pen and the contact lens were first presented, among other useful inventions.
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Post by patricklondon on Mar 4, 2015 16:45:53 GMT
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