Days Three and Four

Day Three was the Beef show. What a long day! I felt I had been doing pretty well until the beef show. The Show barn was packed with people, it was getting warmer outside, and having to wait all day and try to keep tabs on Nicholas set off my first migraine of the fair. Rebecca finally got to show her steer- he finished at the bottom of the class, as we expected, due to his size. It's not realistic to try to compete with those grain force fed, growth hormone injected steers when you are trying to produce a grass-fed organic slow-food type of beef. Rebecca was not discouraged. She trimmed him, bathed him and groomed him the way she wanted to and she did it by herself. She has made quite a name for herself in the dairy and beef barn- I can't tell you how many people have commented to me what a neat young lady she is. She really enjoys caring for the animals and learning from other people, but she certainly makes up her own mind as to how she is going to do it. I think for her showing is just the necessary end to all the hard work but it is not her favorite part. I couldn't get her to participate in any showmanship competition! She just would not do it. Which is too bad because she really does a nice job and I think she could have done well.

There was another demolition derby Sunday night, but when we went home to do chores I stayed home and caught up on some dishes and laundry. I had to get those dairy whites clean after the Dairy show and before the Goat show!

Day Four was the goat show. An early start, the goat show starts at 8am! Rebecca has all Oberhasli goats, a dairy breed. She had two senior doe kids in the same class, (one is hers and one is her brother's)so she had to get help there. Nicholas' finished first and Rebecca's was second. Then she had a dry yearling and took second with her. The first and second in each class go back for Champion Oberhasli, so she really need help with three goats in that competition. Our goats were too small for this judge, but she did comment on their dairy type. Same with the Obe wether, too light. He was 10th is a very large class of 55-60lb animals. My parents came to watch the goat show. They made it just before Rebecca's classes, it was perfect timing. When she finished showing we decided to go out for some real food for lunch, everyone was tired of fair food or sandwiches from home. After a yummy Mexican lunch we headed home to "rest". This time the kids did fall asleep and we all slept for close to 3 hours! Rebecca did mention that she wasn't sure she wants to do four projects next year. When we roused ourselves it was time to do chores at home and head back to the fair to check on animals then watch the Truck Pull with some good friends.

Back to work today at 630am- what a whirlwind!

Wednesday is Mini 4H Extravaganza- Nicholas will show a rabbit and his goat.

The animals that are not going to auction get to come home Wednesday night. It is also the Powder Puff Demolition Derby, which is always fun to watch. Then the auction on Thursday and we will be done with another year. How can it go so fast after you work so hard and long to prepare for it?!?