At the Webster County Fair this week, visitors don’t have to go that far for an actual camel. They only have to walk from their vehicle to the east side of the 4-H Building.

The camels are among the entertainment options this year and are part of the Hot Diggity Dogs & More Show, which also features a nine year-old 700 pound pig named Shelton.

The entire performing menagerie is owned by Hans Klose and Colleen Pades, of Arcadia, Florida.

“I started with dogs, I got the dogs from my parents when they decided to retire, it was sort of the family business.” he said. “Then we got the pig. She brought her camels along. It adds to the show, it’s not just a regular dog show.”

-Photo by Hans Madsen
Dr. Lincoln Wallace discovers that the water in the dunk tank is rather cold Thursday afternoon after Misty Petterson, ARNP snuck up and sprung the trigger. The pair is from Unity Point Health Kenyon Road Family Medicine.

That may make them a unique couple.

Combining families and family pets is pretty common. Six camels — not so much.

They have a combined total of six camels. Two are Bactrian camels, which have two humps. Four are dromedary, which have a single hump. It’s an even split between males and females.

Klose said the animals have a diet similar to a horse or cattle. The humps contain fatty deposits, not water. The camels are also included in the performance and after the show, rides on the animals are available.

“A lot of people have never seen a camel, much less ridden one.” he said.

-Photo by Hans Madsen
Layne Condon, 7, works to get "Moo" back into line Thursday morning during the Sheep Show at the Webster County Fair. Condon is a Cloverbud.

During the show, viewers can expect to see the dogs performing and one lucky volunteer gets to sing with Shelton the Pig.

“I hope they enjoy the dogs,” he said. “They can see how much love and respect we give to our performers.”

Nichol Kleespies, youth program coordinator with the Iowa State University Extension Service, had tried the camel ride Wednesday.

“They’re much smoother than an elephant.” she said.

If camels, dogs and pigs aren’t just the ticket, another show at the fair offers audience volunteers a chance to learn about firefighting.

-Photo by Hans Madsen
Owen Compart, 14, of Fort Dodge, a member of the Johnson Jaguars 4-H Club, puts the finishing touches on Clyde's grooming routine Thursday morning at the Webster County Fair.

The Fire Fighter Show is the work of Neal Snyder, of Port Charlotte, Florida. He spends about nine months of the year traveling with it.

The inspiration came from his brother who was a working firefighter. After a guest injured themselves at a fire station open house, effectively ending the event, Snyder thought it would make a good fair show.

“All the things we do at the show,” he said. “They used to do.”

He begins by “recruiting” a group of junior firefighters from the audience.

“They’re looking like our new generation of heroes.” he said.

-Photo by Hans Madsen
A group of fair attendees found a spot with shade and a breeze to watch the sheep show Thursday at the Webster County Fair.

He then puts them in child-sized turnout gear and helmets. Then gives them their first assignment – polishing his miniature fire truck.

“I built it,” he said. “It’s an electric car, I turned it into a pumper.”

Yes, it does actually work.

The recruits get to put out a “fire” with a fire extinguisher, unroll a length of hose, attach a nozzle and then roll it back up in a timed race.

Their final fire academy lesson is getting to use the water cannon atop a very realistic miniature aerial bucket.

-Photo by Hans Madsen
Candelina, a goat waiting for a chance at stardom in the Webster County Fair's Goat Show Thursday, had a few problems with some of the leashes she was connected to. She got untangled by a human a few seconds later and all was well again.

The water cannon does actually work and it does actually spray water. However, Snyder keeps it turned off out of concern for the audience members’ cell phones. When the three count gets to zero, instead of water, a streamer goes off, sending a long strip of paper flying towards the audience.

The show includes a pretty good sprinkling of fire safety: “In case of fire, don’t hide, get outside, look at your hands on the floor, look down where there’s no smoke.”

He said both children and parents enjoy the show.

“They learn,” he said. “They come back again till they get pulled from the audience.”

Snyder has been doing the Fire Fighter Show for about 16 years.

Prior to that, he worked with a different show.

“I did an alligator show for 14 years.” he said.

Yes, he still has all his limbs and fingers.

In addition to the Fire Fighter Show and the Hot Diggity Dogs & More Show, fair attendees can also experience the Cow Town Show, which educates about agriculture and features a chance to milk a cow. They can take a helicopter ride, enjoy the Larry Dunbar Magic Show, experience the Dragonfire Dancing Horses today at 1 and 5:45 p.m. and cruise the midway at the carnival.

-Photo by Hans Madsen
Luke Muench, 14, of Boxholm, a member of the Dayton Tigers 4-H Club, keeps his eye on the plastic bull Thursday afternoon as he practices his skills during the Webster County Fair.

-Photo by Hans Madsen
Selah Vodraska, 5, of Fort Dodge, sings "Old McDonald Had A Farm" with Shelton, a nine year-old 700 pound pig that performs with the Hog Diggity Dogs & More show at the Webster County Fair. Trainer Hans Klose holds the microphone. for Shelton who grunted perfectly on cue and in time.

-Photo by Hans Madsen
Hot Diggity Dogs & More Show co-starts Colleen Pades, at left, along with Hans Klose, show off two of their six camels during their Thursday afternoon performance at the Webster County Fair.