WALTON - The 2023 Delaware County Fair showcased more than just domestic agriculture animals. Exotic animals such as kangaroo, camel and African spurred tortoise were exhibited.
Chewy the Camel is exhibited at fair’s petting zoo, near the Gate A entrance of the fairgrounds. There are thousands of camels in the United States, handler Tim Charles said. “People in the midwest raise them just like cattle.”
Chewy prefers January or February weather, Charles said. Contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t like heat and he doesn’t like flies. If it gets too cold - under 20 degrees, Charles stables Chewy in a barn, otherwise he spends his time outdoors, even in the snow.
Also displayed at the petting zoo was Wildflower, a miniature Zebu cow. There were also two different type of alpaca, a Suri alapaca, whose fleece is more like mohair from an angora goat, rather than sheep wool, and a huacaya, which has lightweight fleece that is resistant to the elements. Fairgoers can feed animals pellets of food, available for purchase at the exhibit.
Macaws, African spurred tortoises and several breeds of goats and sheep are being exhibited in the petting zoo.
In a nearby exhibit kangaroos are exhibited where fairgoers can get close to and interact with them.
