The fair is lava

Maude looks like we all feel.  Fairs are fun but exhausting.  When it is this hot outside, it is even more exhausting.  I think we have officially sweated from places I didn’t know you could sweat from! 

The girls are done with all their stuff until the parade and auction.  Our goals now include just keeping things watered and as comfortable as possible.  The fair allowed the chickens and rabbits to go home.  We took advantage of that last night and brought them all home.  

Since the girls didn’t have any events today, I didn’t take any pictures.  But the extension office has a girl who is taking a lot of amazing photos so I saved a few.  

Fingers crossed that we can get a little bit of cooler weather to finish the week.  Tonight as Harper and I ran in to make sure our goats had water and a clean place to lay, we noticed another family’s goat was down.  We worked to get it cooled off and called its owner.  I’m not sure if the goat will make it or not.  It was a sad situation.  I’m not sure if the goat got over heated or had something else wrong.  There was water in its pen.  But the barn is really hot. I hope it will be ok. 

Two more days and then they can come home and be hot in their own pens. 

 

Some adversity

Today was a busy (and extremely hot) day. We had a rabbit show, a poultry show and a goat show.  Because we wouldn’t want anything to do tomorrow.   

Harper was the reserve champion senior  Rabbit showman.  If you know Harper at all, you will understand that giving a presentation on all your rabbit knowledge to a judge is so not in her comfort zone.  I am so proud of her.  Saige also did rabbit showmanship.  Saige did a great job as well and received a blue ribbon.   

My photos are a little out of order, but I think you can tell what is what based on animals in the photos.  Evelyn did poultry showmanship with her rooster.  She got a blue ribbon.  She has a knack for talking to a judge!  

Our rabbits didn’t show very well.  The Flemish giant babies we bought are apparently crossbreeds or at the very least not good quality.  We knew their fur was a little discolored but they had bigger issues apparently.  Harper’s blue  mini Rex doe had a penis - which they let slide but he also had white toenails. White ribbon.  Harper’s senior mini Rex doe who is supposed to weigh 4 pounds or less weighed 5.5 pounds. White ribbon. 

Saige had 2 blues on her junior buck and doe in the black mini Rex class.  

Evelyn’s rooster got a blue ribbon. Harper’s which is almost identical got a white ribbon for having white wing feathers.  All of their pullets got blues.  

Evelyn’s first official 4-H goat show.  She worked hard and did a great job. 

Evie got a blue in showmanship.  She also got a blue in the 70-100 pound meat goat class.  

Showmanship for the older girls went a little crazy. Saige’s goat fell over on its side and refused to get up. We had to scratch her.  Harper’s goat wiggled out of the halter and head butted her in the jaw.  Scratch.  

Evie got a little confused on where to walk but overall did great.

In the regular meat goat class,, Saige’s goat got a blue ribbon.  Harper’s goat got reserve champion for the 50-70 pound class.  Harper got to show her goat in the grand drive.  She did great.  Especially when you consider that her goat she worked with had issues so we subbed this goat in 4-5 days ago.  No time to really work with her. 

Saige tried hard but this goat of hers did not want to cooperate.  It’s sort  of funny - she worked hard all summer….a week ago I would have told you this was the best of the walkers we had going (except for Whitey).  Tonight- this goat royally embarrassed Saige.  It still got a blue ribbon somehow.  Saige is now fully invested in sending her to freezer camp!

Rotten little jerk. 

Funny side note - I am standing at the gate giving Saige a minute to see if she can get the goat to cooperate.  I hear a kid say "is that a fainting goat?"  Uhhh No!  No it is not!  :) 

I’m proud of all my girls.  So much hard work. So much literal sweat.  And one thing about 4-H - it teaches you how to deal with adversity.  

 

Fair days

The girls and I managed to get all the projects entered into the fair. The goats got weighted, and their flowers got judged. 

Harper got a blue on her single stem annual  and a purple on her single stem perineal.  

Saige got blues on her single stem annual and perineal. 

The goats were weighed in.  Evelyn’s goat,  Stitch was 76 pounds. 

Saige’s goat - Darlington was 67 pounds. 

Harper’s goat, Polyanna was 63 pounds.  

Wrenley is showing her goat in the pet show.  He didn’t need to be weighed in for that.  But not doing what the other kids were doing made her cry, so we slapped him on the scale.  He was 43 pounds!   I can’t believe that bag of bones weighs that much.  He must have very heavy bones.  Whitey is the ugliest goat we have ever owned. 

He is also the most loved goat we have ever owned.  

The girls attended the livestock exhibitors meeting and then the free lunch from the Fairboard. 

They have rabbits, goats and chickens plus their flowers entered.  This is Evelyn’s first year in 4-H.  She is pretty excited.  Her baking exhibits received 3 purple ribbons.  

Today was hot.  Tomorrow is forecasted to be worse.  Hoping we don’t melt.