A turkey named Mrs. Gobbles sported a tutu as a ballerina for the small animal costume contest on Aug. 9, 2024, at the Baker County Fair.

Emma Bain giggled as the crowd chanted “Go, Smokey, go!”

And Smokey did — nibbling half a carrot in 45 seconds to claim the title in the carrot-eating competition at the Baker County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 8.

Smokey didn’t heed the whistle when time was up — the rabbit just kept working on the baby carrot.

“He never eats a whole carrot,” Bain said with a grin.

Then it was the humans’ turn to see who could unwrap a Tootsie roll and eat it the fastest using only one hand — a handicap, of sorts, so they could sympathize with their rabbits. (And Cookie, a guinea pig owned by Xander Johnson, who competed against the rabbits.)

Once the rabbits were back in their pens, it was time for the chickens to enter the competitive eating ring.

Actally, it was a table, where each bird was presented with a dish of 10 meal worms. And when one bird polished off the worms in record time, the kids again had a turn.

This time, they had to keep hands behind their back and use only their mouth to unwrap and eat the candy.

“Pretend they’re wings,” Amanda Carroll told the kids as they eyed the prize.

(The candy may, or may not, have been eaten whole, wrapper and all.)

More fair fun continues Friday, Aug. 9, at the Baker County fairgrounds, 2600 East St. The fair opens to the public at 9 a.m. and the day culminates with the livestock auction at 6 p.m.

Baker County Fair 2025