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Big Butler Fair Is Part Carnival, Part Food Fest

BUTLER, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Big Butler Fair has been coming around for 159 years.

The largest fair in western Pennsylvania is a mix of rides, carnival games and hundreds of booths featuring food you won't find on the Dean Ornish diet.

World Champion chainsaw artist Leonard Beach has carved out a place for himself, while Brad Matchett hosts a combination farm and magic show called Agracadabra.

The fairground also includes 40 barns to exhibit farm animals. Fair spokesman Ben Roenigk says animals are the stars of the show.

"Without the animals, the fair would be nothing but a big carnival," he adds.

It's not just farm animals. A pair of camels hail from the Bar C Ranch in Virginia.

Speaking of the camels, ranch owner Wil Caton says, "Eli here's 10-years-old, Samson's 7-years-old. We raised these camels since they were 10-years-old on the bottle. They're gentle as can be. They do rides. Kids pet them."

Their favorite treat? Animal crackers.

"Even the camel ones they don't seem to mind," Caton laughs.

The Bar C Ranch has a mini petting zoo, while young Brody Caton supervises a "parakeet experience."

"We have 152, I believe, of the parakeets," he says. "Ninety of them were born on the farm."

They're so tame; they will eat right out of your hand.

The Butler County Fair continues through Saturday, July 5.

For a complete schedule, log on to http://bigbutlerfair.com/big_butler_fair_fair_schedule.html

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