The Orange County Fair 2012 Visit Two With Monica & Mike  

Did You Know? - "Home! Sweet Home!" (also known as "Home, Sweet Home") is a song that has remained well known for over 150 years. Adapted from American actor and dramatist John Howard Payne's 1823 opera Clari, Maid of Milan, the song's melody was composed by Englishman Sir Henry Bishop with lyrics by Payne. The opening lines

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;

Did You Know? - Wheat (Triticum spp.) is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East and Ethiopian Highlands, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2010 world production of wheat was 651 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize (844 million tons) and rice (672 million tons). In 2009, world production of wheat was 682 million tons, making it the second most-produced cereal after maize (817 million tons), and with rice as close third (679 million tons).

Wheat is grown on more land area than any other commercial crop and is the most important staple food for humans. World trade in wheat is greater than for all other crops combined. Globally, wheat is the leading source of vegetable protein in human food, having a higher protein content than either maize (corn) or rice, the other major cereals. In terms of total production tonnages used for food, it is currently second to rice as the main human food crop and ahead of maize, after allowing for maize's more extensive use in animal feeds.

Did You Know? - Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. Under natural condition, the cotton balls will tend to increase the dispersion of the seeds.

The plant is a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, Africa, and India. The greatest diversity of wild cotton species is found in Mexico, followed by Australia and Africa. Cotton was independently domesticated in the Old and New Worlds. The English name derives from the Arabic (al) qutn قُطْن, which began to be used circa 1400 AD.

Did You Know? - Stainless steel soap is a piece of stainless steel, in the form of a soap bar or other hand-held shape. Its purported purpose is to neutralize or reduce strong odors from the hands, such as those from handling garlic, onion or fish.

While stainless steel soap is sold by reputable sources, scientific evidence of its efficacy appears lacking. One hypothesis is that these soaps work by binding the sulphur compounds found in substances such as onions and garlic. A company based in Solingen, Germany, obtained a patent for its version of a stainless steel soap.

Did You Know? - Chickens can be tamed by hand feeding and by being handled. Some people are afraid that roosters will become aggressive, but this problem can easily be avoided if the rooster is handled properly. Breeds such as Silkies and many bantams are generally docile, making them ideal pets for owners with small children.

Some cities in the United States allow chickens as pets but others ban them. Some may only ban roosters due to the crowing. City ordinances, zoning regulations or health boards may determine whether chickens may be kept. A general requirement is that the birds be confined to the owner's property, not allowed to roam freely. There may be restrictions on the size of the property or how far from human dwellings a coop may be located, etc.

Did You Know? - Archaeological ruins and ancient texts show that silos were used in ancient Greece as far back as the late 8th century BC, as well as the 5th Millennium B.C site of Tell Tsaf, Israel. The term silo is derived from the Greek σιρός (siros), "pit for holding grain".

Did You Know? - Ah So means "Ah, it is so" "Ah, yes" "Yes, it is so" "Yes, it is" "Yes, that's the way it is" "It is thus"

Did You Know? - That the word “Bonsai”, which is pronounced “Bone- Sigh”, is made up of the two Japanese characters: “Bon” meaning tray and “sai” meaning plant, which when literally translated means: tray plant. Of course, the cultivation of bonsai trees has advanced much since its humble start as plants in trays.

Did You Know? - That in 1976 the people of Japan, in honor of the USA Bicentennial Celebration, presented to America 53 priceless bonsai trees and 6 remarkable viewing stones. These gifts were to become the foundation of our national collection. This magnificent group is housed at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, located within the U.S. National Arboretum, in Washington, D.C. It has since become the largest collection of its kind - housing bonsai from around the world!

Did You Know? - That the oldest bonsai in the national collection is over 300 years old. The bonsai is a White Pine that is affectionately known as the Yamaki Pine, in honor of its donor, Masaru Yamaki. The Yamaki began its life in the 1600s and, despite being less than five miles away from the impact site, it survived the atomic bomb blast at Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945.

Did You Know? - Korea who holds this honor of the largest bonsai garden in the world. The park is named Bunjae Artpia and it's located on Cheju Island.

Did You Know? - Shinto Bonsai is the smallest available in class sizing. Bonsai have a classification structure going from the Imperial which, is the largest down to the 'shito' which is usually around two inches and is potted in a thimble sized container. These are very delicate to maintain due to the lack of water and nutrients in the small pot.

Did You Know? - Juicys™ Outlaw grill is without exception the world's largest bar-b-que. At over 20 feet high, weighing 27 tons and covering nearly 100 feet of turf this massive piece of equipment will make outdoor dining an event for millions to see.

This beast can cook over 1,000 items simultaneously and with two four-foot aluminum walkways set up along the borders of the grill, our posse of chefs can move about freely to prepare all of Juicys™ famous product line. From Juicys™ Outlaw Burger to Juicys™ Giant Western Sausage, the Outlaw Grill can... and will... satisfy everyone.