Senior Day brings out the best of visitors to the fair

Nothing surprises Kern County Fair employee Edward Pullings anymore. Not after 25 years on the job. And certainly not on Senior Day.

"Senior Day is always the same. A lot of good seniors," said the 64-year-old foster parent of four assigned to make sure no one gave popcorn or any other human food to the goats and other livestock on his watch.

Although he may have seen it all, what he observed Friday was touching nonetheless.

"I've seen a lot of people fall in love with the animals," he said.

Senior Day remains one of the great customs of an annual event steeped in tradition. Once every year, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., senior citizens get in free of charge, with free parking to boot.

The event attracted thousands of local seniors who took in every aspect of the event, from the complimentary health screenings and bags of freebies handed out by Dignity Health, to the dance floor near the main entrance, to the fair's many irresistible food booths.

Despite warm weather that had many visitors fanning themselves in the sun, the seniors kept moving for hours on end. Some toured the grounds on motorized chairs while others walked around on their own two legs — and at least one guy zipped around on an e-bike.

Not far from Pullings, senior Donna Kailany of Bakersfield made fast friends with a pair of goats she just had to take pictures of.

"They're beautiful," she said, adding that animals are her favorite part of the fair. She knows just who to thank for them, too.

"Rabbits, sheep, goats — and young people taking care of them. It's beautiful," Kailany said beaming. "A new generation. Wonderful."

Animatronic dinosaurs were a big attraction this year. Couples and larger groups of seniors slowed down just long enough to take photos of the attraction.

Among them were Bakersfield residents Gary and Treva Eden, who couldn't help but think of how much their dinosaur-obsessed granddaughter would have enjoyed the experience. Then again, she was in school and missed out.

Gary Eden noted how realistic the machines were.

"I would not want to be with the real thing," he said, adding he was relieved his wife didn't get a knock on the head while he took her picture with a spinosaurus.

Not far away, Sharon Parks posed for photos with friends to preserve the memory.

"It's a great exhibit, isn't it?" she asked. "It's fun. I wish I was a kid."

Back at the livestock area, Debbie Olvera and her husband, Joshua Olvera, commented on the well-groomed goats who seemed to take a mutual interest in the visitors.

"I just love to come to see the animals," Debbie said. "So clean and pretty."

If Joshua had an opinion on the goats, he wasn't sharing it as he walked from pen to pen, apparently less interested in the animals than in making sure his wife was having a good time.

"I just follow her around," he said.