Fair season is in full swing with competitions – traditional and modern fare such as truck and Jeep pulls; draft horse and oxen teams (if you are fortunate enough to see working livestock in competition) – plus wagonloads of family fun, live music, barns full of critters, new things to see and plenty to do.

Hold hands and go have some fun – and maybe learn where food comes from.

Plenty of venues to choose from every single weekend now – large, middling' and the just right community-sized ones, too. Near and far – every state has something to offer and each event reflects the region and the folks who do the work to offer up a feast for the senses with a heart of agriculture and competition at the best of them.

The 103rd Goshen Fair, always Labor Day weekend, always offers up a good time. Don't miss the antics of the Muttville Comix. Check out the giant pumpkins near the north side of the Antique Barn. Special contests where fair-goers can get in on the fun. Details linked here. The fair is open Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission $9; children under 12, free.

“In the New England tradition, young castrated cattle selected for draft are known as working steers and are painstakingly trained from a young age. Their teamster makes or buys as many as a dozen yokes of different sizes for each animal as it grows. The steers are normally considered fully trained at the age of four and only then become known as oxen.” – Wikipedia

Listen out for the teamster commands for working oxen: Gee, turn right. Haw, left.

Woodstock Fair, on through through Sunday, Sept. 7 features pony pulls Sunday; horse pulls on Monday. Barnyard Babies Birthing Center located across from the Cow Barn. Blacksmith, shingle mill, hay baling, potato harvesting, plus other demonstrations daily. Gas engine display run all four days. Sand sculpture by Sandtasia, chain saw carving by Sickline Carving, colonial craft demonstrations, displays of antique tractors, equipment, well, you just have to go see it for yourself.

Here's a colorful PDF brochure that includes a map and all the good stuff, including tractor pulls, and where to find the Little Farmers Play Place. Horse show competitions include pony and mini horses classes, open draft horse driving division, trail, and fun and games, plus others. Youth and adult showmanship, open pleasure driving, draft horse carriage turnout, reinsmanship, plus many others.

Haddam Neck Fair, Friday, Sept. 4 to Monday, Sept. 7, at the fairgrounds, 26 Quarry Hill Rd. The tradition of rage sales all along the road leading into the fair – well, that's up to you whether or not to indulge by stopping to check out all the array of stuff.

Pick your own – or PYO – these homegrown excursions are always good to avoid crowds. There's plenty ripe and succulent good things to choose at farm stands, farm stores and markets if you want to skip the picking and get to the enjoying.

The Valley Arts Foundation 18th Annual Festival of the Arts in the Mad River Valley keeps on going until Monday, Sept. 7, Labor Day. Activities for all ages; visit www.vermontartfest.com for the particulars.

Make a reservation for the Pig Roast Farm Dinner Fundraiser, Saturday, Sept. 19, 5:30 to 9 p.m., on the farm at Killam & Bassette, South Glastonbury, Conn. Catered by Chef Enda Flynn of Flynn’s Grill – a five course meal, wine tasting, Kevin Bassette at the tractor wheel for country hayrides. Also, live toe-tapping' music by Frankie Justin Lamprey & Roughstock. And 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Judy Lynch Memorial Scholarship Fund and go to a deserving Glastonbury senior based totally on community service and work ethic. Tickets, $75. For information call (860) 833-0095. Here's the link to the event Facebook page.

Or just enjoy time in your garden, back porch or under a shade tree with a book and dream about the quiet, open roads and room to roam that will be here when the official holiday is all over and hordes of people go back to work.