It's Not Pretty at the Fair

I have spent my week looking at the back end, the back sides of cows, pigs, kids. Seriously, I have very few fair pictures that aren't the back end of something or someone. Lots of what comes out of the back end too. Manure in almost every pic!







Lexi loved milking the cow in the Farm Friend's tent. I got in front of the cow for this pic.

Max won't help me get good pictures at the Fair but if someone else's Mom is taking their picture he has to butt in. So, even from the front he's a butt!

The fair just isn't always pretty.

Working Together

The 4-H kids all help each other in the barn. Some brothers and sisters aren't old enough to be in 4-H yet. And they can't wait. Austin's little brother will run you over to be the one to pick up a cow pie. I can't wait for him to be ten, he'll do a great job.

Brooke and Jena's little sis, got to show during Open Class yesterday. It's good practice and she's been helping all week too.

Max and Petunia had a good morning- 4-H Grand Champion Jersey. Yay!

Max and Karrina getting ready for Karrina to show. Next Spring Max is going to mentor Karrina.

So much goes into this week, the kids working hard, the parents, the farmers, the families all coming together. Gotta love it! I have one more barn duty this afternoon and then life as we know it goes back to normal at the Stone House.
Oh, and I'll probably have to go to detox to get over the Fair food. It's been ugly.

Past My Bedtime

I was out late tonight. I am an early to bed girl. Max needed to milk Petunia at 9:30 p.m. tonight. Tonight is all about Petunia's udder, timing the milking so that tomorrow she is bursting and beautiful for the show. It is many farmers talking it through, hashing it out, making decisions about milking. Timing is everything, folks. Petunia has a nice udder and tomorrow is her day to show it off. My BIL Bill wondered if she had work done. Umm, no, but she is one of those girls that you wonder if she did. She has such a gorgeous udder, good rib and just such a nice dairy look to her. Trust me when I tell you I have NO idea what this all means, I've just over heard farmers' conversations this week.

Good Night. I'm bringing Max back to the barn at 5:00 a.m.

Extreme Cow Makeover

Before:

After:

Don't they clean up nice? The cow and the boy? I mentioned in a previous post about the washing, clipping, leading and pedicure, but seeing is believing. And that's just Petunia. Max cleans up real nice too, showered, shaved, fed, in his 'whites'. An amazing transformation.
*Those spots on my camera lens are obviously fat and grease flying around from Fair food...I'll fix that.

We Have a Winner, Folks

Max and Petunia ready to go into the show ring. A calm seems to come over Max before he shows. And it shows. Judges like his style, his calm showmanship. Yep, they like it every year.

Petunia needs to learn not to pick her nose during pictures. Yikes girl! But she did real well in the show. Max too.

My parents with three of their grandkids. Katie and Max got firsts and Zach got second. Nice showing! Max and Zach are the same age so they show against each other. After 5 a.m. barn duty and milking they came back to our place for showers and my hubby made them the lucky breakfast-two fried egg and bacon. Looks like it worked.

Tidy Barn

Fitting and Showing Dairy cows and heifers is lots of work and these kids were busy today. Everyone washes and brushes their animal, the clipping is done in the last week, they are given lots of good hay and grain. The Jerseys get a pedicure and the Holsteins get their top line done just so. The tails get a back comb and spray. Each get fly spray and their nose and ears wiped out one last time and then it is show time. The kids change into their 'whites' at the last little bit to stay as clean as possible. During this whole time parents may not help and the barn must stay clean.
Today the Washington State Fair Commissioner came through during this busy time and was so impressed that the Dairy Barn won the Black and White Commissioner's Award. There is only one given at the fair per year. Congratulations everyone! The barn wasn't the only winner though...more on that later.

Ready or Not

Max has done all he can do to get ready, so here we go. To the Fair. Ready or not.

The First Year

Max and Uncle Darryl after Fitting and Showing 2003

Max was 10 when he started 4-H Dairy. He won first place in Fitting and Showing. Fitting and Showing is when the kids are judged on how well they have trained their animal and how well the animal is cleaned up, clipped etc. and the kids have to look sharp too. They dress in white-yes white. In the barn, by the cows and all that manure-white. When Max won he was pretty excited and we were pretty proud of him. He works hard and takes it pretty seriously.
He had a lot of fans, my parents, my aunts and uncles, Auntie Shelly and school friends. Auntie Shelly was so proud, she cried. It was a moment.

She is Getting Some Manners

Looks like #52 is coming to her senses and leading quite nicely, Max even got her set up nicely today. Right now she is getting a bath and a haircut, also known as getting washed and clipped. By the time he's finished with her, #52 will be looking good. She will also get a pedicure.

I took some photos of the younger girls while I was hanging out at the farm today.

Curious maybe, but I think she just wants to be chosen to go the Fair. Pretty little face.

She isn't Very Nice

The Northwest Washington Fair is in Lynden next week. A time of telling...Max's hard work will go before judges for 4-H Dairy, Type and Open Class. All of the Farmers are a twitter over #52, Max's cow, she's beautiful in a dairy sort of way. However, huge problemo, she is NOT nice. She won't lead and she has tried to bite Max. Listen Missy! Dogs bite, cows slobber! We were at the farm late last night trying new angles and are going back this morning. Max must prevail!

* I will be blogging about cows this week and next, A. LOT. More than normal, for anyone, let alone me. Stay tuned, you won't want to miss a minute of the excitement.

Weather or Not

Pretty, curious heifer.
Butting heads...
Well, this is it. Spring is here. My friends Vern and Shelly called this afternoon and it was time to let the cows out. Years ago I mentioned how much I loved it when my Grandpa would let his heifers out in the springtime. Those placid slow going girls really kick up their heels when they finally get out of the barn after a long winter.
We never know when it will be and when Vern decides they are getting out, we drop everything and go. One time my hubby's parents and a friend were visiting us when we got the call so they got drug along. It is a funny thing when the barn door opens, some come out nose first and slow but most of the girls come running, kicking and the mud just flies. The guys watch the back of the field because sometimes the girls are so excited that they break down the fence!
Well, that is just about all the excitement I can handle in one day. Now, I am going shopping with teen guys. Good thing I had my fun this afternoon.