Best in Show...
By Cilla Shiels
- 738 reads
Bluebell farm was the smallest holding in west Devon. Farmer Bow (as in Rainbow) took great care of his animals. He fed them at 6 o'clock in the morning and 6 o'clock in the evening and made sure they alway had plenty of fresh water to quench their thirst when the sun beat down on their heads.
Farmer Bow was quite an amusing character and could be picked out in a crowd with his red felt hat with a white feather, yellow shirt, green pants and blue stockings peeping out of his purple boots.
Every year the local counties had a farmers' market and held a 'Best in Show' competition to reward the owner of the best-looking animals with a red ribbon and a shiny silver cup.
Year in, year out, Farmer Bow prepared his animals to enter the show. He would wash and shampoo his beasts and talk to them about how this year they would win first prize.
Sadly, it never seemed likely Farmer Bow's animals would ever win the competition.
Farmer Bow scratched his head and wondered what he could do to make his cow, sheep, pig and dog stand out in the crowd.
One day, Farmer Bow had an idea but he didn't tell anyone about it, not even his wife.
Summer arrived and the day of the show dawned. Farmer Bow rose with a spring in his step.
After his breakfast, he fed his beloved animals and talked to them about how this year they'd win first prize.
Farmer Bow soon had his cow, sheep, pig and dog strapped safely in his big van and he trundled off to the county show.
He arrived at the showground very excited. People stopped and stared as Farmer Bow led his animals out of his big van and marched them toward the arena. Other farmers looked at Farmer Bow's animals and gasped at the sight they saw. They couldn't believe their eyes. One farmer laughed and said, "How silly to enter animals in the competition like that!"
After much angst as the hot sun beat down, Farmer Bow waited to hear the resutls of the competition. The momen arrived...
"This year," boomed the Mayor, "'Best in Show' prize goes to...Farmer Bow's cow, sheep, pig and dog."
The cheers rang out around the arena as Farmer Bow took a bow as he entered the stage to collect his long-awaited prize. His animals had done him proud.
The cow, sheep, pig and dog stood ceremoniously in their red felt hats with a white feather, yellow jackets, green leggings and blue socks with purple bobbles. They took a bow and enjoyed the clapping and shouting as it echoed around the field.
Farmer Bow grinned from ear to ear as he was presented with four shiny silver cups and four red ribbons for his cow, sheep, pig and dog.
He was so excited to finally place the prizes on his mantlepiece and give his beloved animals an extra treat after their evening meal.
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