Family + Friends = Joy: Fair Time

Showing animals at the fair starts when school let out.

After a summer of feeding and caring for the animal, it is time to prepare them for the fair. A week before the fair the lambs need to be sheared. The lambs need to be cleaned. It is a fun family bonding experience!

Alivia got to be a part of the experience since her Mom and Dad were driving shuttle for a white water trip on the Main Salmon.

Shearing the lambs at Lori Kowitz's house, there are many good stories told. Maya is really helping hold the lamb so Lori can shear the wool off its belly.

Bottom half done!

Fair Week

Most of the day, Monday, August 13th, was spent getting prepared for lamb weigh-ins and the upcoming shows. Klade Williams (neighbor) brought Nate Hill’s (neighbor) trailer around 5:45 PM. He has been willing to do the trailer trips because Kamree Williams (Klade's daughter) was doing a lamb this year as well. The more the merrier. Loading the lambs in the trailer went very smooth. It is grand to have lambs that have been worked with some. Maya and Anna have learned a lot, and they are doing a wonderful job taking care of their lamb project.

The First Big Test - Weighs-In!! Anna and Maya both made weight with their lambs!! Hurrah!!! Anna’s rate of gain was 0.55 lbs. (127 lbs). It only gained 9 lbs since the mock show but it made weight. Maya’s rate of gain 0.75 (120 lbs). Happy Day!! They both can sell their lambs on Saturday if they get a red or blue ribbon. The rest of the evening went smooth until Klade brought the spare lamb home to put with the other lambs at the barn. I thought that I could head it into the pen without a rope around its neck. Well. . . the lamb took off up the road to visit the neighbors. It was dark and things just were not getting better. I got over to David’s shop and called the house and told Maya, Nathan, and all to come and help. (Nathan and Millie have been here because they will be running the last part of the shuttle for the main Salmon River Trip that Jay’s family is on on Tuesday and Wednesday.) Klade called Ryan Hoopes and Nate Hill. We had a neighborhood party trying to catch one lamb. Nathan brought a lariat. He threw it three time and missed. Well, the lamb jumped through the loop in the rope. Nate Hill was successful. I guess all his training is useful. Yes! I have mud on my face.

RULE When you open a gate, make sure the animal is secured. They do not think or act like people.

The lambs made weight. They are in a clean pen at the fair. The girls pose for a picture.

Tuesday morning

Dairy heifers are showing now. Alivia look at the cows.

Alivia look at the camera

It was a hot and dusty day at the Fair. Nathan and Millie headed for Riggins, Idaho, around 9:30 AM. Alivia got to go and spend the day with all the animals. I think she had enough time with the lambs. The show got started late because Dairy went into the Lamb time. The show was suppose to start at 1 PM It got started at 1:45 PM. There were 5 divisions for the lambs. The first was for breeding. The rest were market lambs –Hampshire, Cross-breed, suffock, commercial/whiteface. The 1st and 2^nd were grand and reserve champions in the different divisions. Anna and Maya were in the last class – Market Lambs – Commercial/whiteface. There were 3 lambs in the division. Anna was 1^st, Kamree Williams 2^nd, Maya Allred 3^rd. There were about 50 lambs in all the divisions. After all the divisions showed and selected Grand and Reserve, there was another show for overall. Anna was able to show in the overall group when the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Lambs of the Fair were picked. Maya and Anna were pleased with their placing.

While the girls get their lambs ready. James and Alivia played in the stalls nearby.

Cleaning lambs!

Alivia can be quite particular about the food she will eat. I could not understand why the lamb's food was something she wanted to eat.

Anna and Maya are showing their lambs

Anna is 1st in her class. Maya is third.

Go Maya!! Move that lamb!

Wednesday

The day started early for me. I went in and mowed around Environmental at McCain before the parade. Anna and Maya were able to stay with Alivia. They took care of lambs and Alivia and James. When I got home, I shower and we headed in for the parade. We watched over by Kings parking lot until 11:30. That was the time that Anna wanted to go and get ready for the show. It turned to be best for her because she was able to get some excellent training from the judge. Maya was taking care of her lamb.

You were probably wondering about the Commercial/ white face category. We were wondering about it too so I asked the Lamb Superintendent, McKenzie Priest. She told me that the girls’ lambs were in that category because they were spotted (signs of cross breed), had a round behind, and wrinkly skin. Anna’s group (4-H senior) was second group to go and the judge worked them hard. He placed from the lowest to the highest. He was trying to see them make mistakes. He started asking question. He asked Anna what class was her lamb. She respond, “Commercial.” He asked if the Suffock lambs was the most common breed.” She said, “I don’t know …but I know that my lamb is a commercial breed because it is spotted, has a round rump, and wrinkly skin.” After the “I don’t know” the judge started to walk away but she caught him and responded. He told the audience that her response gave her the 2^nd class position in the group. When all the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd placed winner came back in for the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion, Anna looked great. The girl that won Reserve Champion was the one that one 1^st in her class. Anna was so happy.

Maya did really well. She got a blue ribbon. I think that because her lamb kept giving her a hard time that she did not do better. She probably needed to spend a little more time with it.

James was patience. He thinks that he wants to do it next year. He does get tired of the long waiting. He was very helpful with Alivia. He should get a blue ribbon for caring for Alivia.

Alivia had some fun. She liked the parade. She got a little sleep. Nathan and Millie got back around 3:30 PM. They left for Rexburg at 8 PM. I think Alivia will sleep well all night tonight

Cassia County Parade

Alivia enjoys the day.