Winning Big Fun at County Fairs

Augest 23, 2013

Millions of Americans enjoys county fairs every year

Welcome to American Mosaic from VOA Learning English!

I’m June Simms.

On the show today, we play music from a first album by country group Florida Georgia Line.

We also visit Money Island, New Jersey, a coastal community still recovering from a powerful ocean storm last year.

But first, we go to a fair!

County Fairs

Every year, county fairs take place across the United States. Visitors can see farm animals, find lots to eat and buy goods from artists and craftsmen. But some people go to fairs for the rides and games.

Christopher Cruise tells about the fun at one such event in Costa Mesa, California.

The people who work at the Orange County Fair operate the rides and games. But what really fuels the action are the fairgoers with clear goals. Like 11-year-old Cory Richards who won a huge toy animal by playing a game.

“I had the goal to get this guy, and I did it. So, now, it’s just win as many stuffed animals as I can.”

In one game, players throw baseballs. They attempt to hit and break empty glass bottles. In another, throwing a basketball or two through a basketball net can win a prize.

Cory Richards believes that the bigger the toy, the better.

“I played the basketball game. It was between this one or the round piggy. But this one was bigger so it made me feel more accomplished.”