Activities Coloring Pages Word Puzzles Word Treasures Return to the Story
Read by Anita Rodgers
The long wait was over.
“Bow-wow! He’s back!” barked Belle. The dog had been waiting on the front porch. She barked, “Farmer John is home from the Fall Festival.”
Farmer John came in the barn door with Haley. The horse was happy to be back at the farm. He put Haley in her stall and said, “I will be right back.”
Then Farmer John walked out of the barn to the house. All the animals talked at once.
They asked, “Haley, what happened at the Fall Festival? We want to know everything.”
Haley said, “Neigh! Neigh! Please, one at a time. I am just too tired to tell you. We gave hayrides to the children all day.” Then Haley said, “Shelley, you tell them. I am going to eat and get some sleep.”
Shelley, the small black spider, had been with Farmer John all day. She could see everything from her hiding place on his hat. Now she could tell the animals the good news.
Shelley said, “The Mayor gave a welcome to open the Fall Festival. There was so much going on. All the people were there. There were games for everyone to play. Farmer John did well at the horseshoe toss.”
She said with a laugh, “You should have seen the pet parade. All the animals were dressed up. A pink pig with big green glasses won the blue ribbon for Best Dressed.” Belle barked, “That is so funny! No wonder the pig won first place.”
Shelley said, “There was so much for the children to do. Sue’s mother was there to tell stories about Breakers Island. All the children liked the hayride with Farmer John. Then at the end of the day, there was a dance and fireworks.”
Belle barked, “So that is why I saw bright lights in the sky.”
Shelley said, “There was so much food for the people to eat. Like last year, there were ribbons placed by the best foods.”
The hen clucked, “Tell us how we did at the Farmer’s Market.” They all wanted to know who had won ribbons.
Shelley had saved the best for last. She said, “The Fall Festival went very well for us this year. We did better than last year.”
The hen asked, “How did my eggs do?”
Shelley said, “You will be happy to know that your white eggs got a blue ribbon.”
The hen clucked with pride, “My eggs won first place!”
Haley stopped eating long enough to say, “Shelley, tell them about the corn.”
Shelley said, “We did well with our crops. Farmer John got a blue ribbon for our corn.”
Now all the animals were talking at once.
Shelley said, “Quiet please! There is more you will want to know.”
The cow asked, “What about my milk and butter? How did they do? Did I get a ribbon?”
Shelley said, “No, you did not get one ribbon, but don’t look sad! They gave you two ribbons. One was for milk and one was for butter.”
The cow could not believe her ears. She said, “Moo! I got two ribbons! Was Farmer John happy?”
Shelley said, “Yes, he was very happy. But that is not the best news. I have one more blue ribbon to tell you about.”
Haley said, “Shhhh! Quiet down so she can tell you.”
Now Shelley had their full attention. She said, “We got the blue ribbon for “The Best Farm” on Breakers Island.”
Now all the animals gave a happy yell. “Moo!” said the cow. “Neigh!” said the horse. “Cluck!” said the hen. “Woof, woof!” barked Belle.
“Meow,” purred the cat as she licked her paws. She rolled on her back and played with the shoelaces on Farmer John’s work boots.
The barn door opened. All the animals looked as Farmer John came into the barn. He asked, “What is going on in here? Why is there so much noise?”
Farmer John put a nail by the barn door. Then he hung the five blue ribbons for the animals to see. He looked at each of them and said, “Thank you for another good year. These ribbons are for you. I could not have done it
without you.”
Activities Coloring Pages Word Puzzles Word Treasures Return to the Story
They all wanted to know who had won ribbons.