@laurakmorton

Gary and Addison wait with their cows before competing in the Youth Animal Dress Up Contest, where participants could show either a goat or cow in costume, at the Franklin County Fair in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania in July 2021. Addison was dressed as the Lone Ranger. Gary got a good laugh from the crowd as the judges announced that his cow Wildflower was dressed as a wig saleswoman who was there to help any single heifers who wanted a makeover to help them “find their bull.” ⁠ ⁠ This photo is from a new project, “America’s Homecoming,” I began last summer, documenting the ways that, all across the country, communities celebrate their shared histories and customs with annual, traditional events. At a time of political division and pandemic isolation, I wanted to photograph how Americans were coming together to celebrate community with their neighbors. These events – the county fair, the fireman’s carnival, the annual parade – rarely make the national news, but they are important to the fabric of life in small towns across the country. I began this work using my parent’s home in Gettysburg as a base, photographing around South-Central Pennsylvania and Western Maryland and I’m looking forward to continuing the work this summer. ⁠ ⁠ #Americashomecoming #countyfair #cows #Pennsylvania #Franklincounty ⁠