Two crowd-pleasing food and farm traditions drew big turnouts, and both are pure feel-good news.

• Volunteers in Malmedy, Belgium cracked 7,200 eggs into a pan 13 feet wide to make a giant omelet.
• They cooked it over an open fire with bacon, onions, and herbs, then served it free to hundreds of visitors with bread.
• The event is an annual festival and a reliable draw for the town.
• At the Iowa State Fair, contestants strutted and squawked their way through the chicken calling contest.
• A competitor from West Des Moines took first place.

Outlook: Both events are yearly fixtures, so expect them back next summer.