The Barnyard Buddies envisioned beautiful, prancing horses pulling the ornate wagons in a parade; costumed clowns and trapeze artists strutting and waving to the crowd along the way. They could almost hear the roaring of the lions and the trumpeting of the elephants.

In the shadows cast by the huge wagons, the Barnyard Buddies prepared themselves for the circus they were going to show to their country neighbors. There was a flurry of anticipation as they sewed the costumes to be worn and rehearsed their acts.

Scott and Stacy Finn were getting concerned for their pets. They thought their Barnyard Buddies were spending the long summer days grazing in the pasture, but when they called them into their stalls at night, the animals seemed to be very hungry.

Finally, the day of the Barnyard Buddies circus came. The animals roped off a big circle for their show ring. They decorated it with brightly colored flags and balloons. Cows, pigs, chickens and horses from all around the countryside came for the show. Circus stories and memories from the past spread through the crowd as they viewed the beautiful wagons. Excitement filled the air!

Randy the Rooster, dressed in a black top hat and red ringmaster's coat, flew to the top of a stool in the center of the ring and crowed, "Cows, stallions and animals of all ages, we now present The Barnyard Buddies grand march!"

The Barnyard Buddies pranced proudly into the ring. They were dressed in an array of costumes and hats. The animal audience cheered with all kinds of animal sounds.

One by one, the Barnyard Buddies performed their tricks. Mike the Mule danced on his hind legs and hurdled over high jumps. The magnificent red and white plumes in his white leather halter fluttered and waved as he galloped.

Bruce the Bull balanced a huge striped ball on his forehead and then tossed it high into the air. He wore a bright blue halter, that was decorated with silver studs, and a colored blanket strapped over his back.

Gary the Goat and Sofie the Sheep were dressed in clown clothes. They rode a teeter-totter and climbed up and down a pyramid of boxes.

Polly the Pig, wearing a tiara and a pink tutu, jumped through a row of hoops and balanced on a wire stretched between two towers.

Roberta the Rabbit jumped out of a big, black top hat (pretending she was a magic rabbit) and performed a juggling act with and carrots radishes.

The animals that made up the audience stomped their hooves and made many different animal noises to show they really loved the circus performance. When the Barnyard Buddies' acts were over and their circus drew to a close, the neighbor animals dispersed and returned to their homes.

The old, deserted farm was quiet once more. The Barnyard Buddies pushed the beautiful wagons back into the barn, packed up the costumes and sadly closed and latched the big doors.

"It's such a shame that everything has to be locked away and forgotten again. Isn't there something we can do, Mike the Mule?" Roberta the Rabbit sadly asked. She hopped along beside her friends as they made their way home. "I think our friends, Scott and Stacy, would love to see the wagons. So would all the other children in the countryside."

"Yes, I'm sure they would. But how can we get them here?" asked Mike the Mule. "Does someone have an idea?"

They all began exchanging ideas until Gary the Goat blurted out, "Follow the leader!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" demanded Sofie the Sheep. "We're not playing games. We're trying to get the children to the old farm."

"Well...uh...I just thought we could get them to follow us to...uh...Oh I guess it's a dumb idea," Gary the Goat stammered.

"No! It's not a dumb idea, Gary the Goat," Bruce the Bull exclaimed! "In fact, old chap, it's brilliant!"

"Yes, of course it is!" said Polly the Pig. "We'll get them to follow us and then they will see the wagons..."

"And they will tell all their friends!" added Mike the Mule excitedly.

"Squawk!!! That's dumb! That's stupid!" crowed Randy the Rooster. "Why would two children follow a bunch of animals somewhere? Besides that, they will find out about the hole in the fence where we get out of the pasture."

"Randy the Rooster is right, for a change," bleated Sofie the Sheep. "They will fix the fence and we'll be stuck in that boring pasture forever. We'll never be able to go anywhere again. I'm not staying in that dumb pasture!"

"Alright everyone. Calm down!" said Mike the Mule. "There must be a way we can get them to follow us and not give away our secret."

When they arrived at the edge of the Finn farm's pasture, an idea popped into Mike the Mule's head. "I know just what we'll do! Gather around everyone. Here's our plan..."