Monday, August 27, 2012

Fair Days

Fair time means busy time

BUT

it also means FUN and hard work!

The boys have been working with their 4-H animals since March.

AND

The fair is where they showcase all the work and effort they have put into their animals.

Fair time starts Monday evening!
The kids clean, decorate and get the barn ready for the animals to arrive in the morning.

Tuesday the boys got up early to ready the pigs.  They loaded them in the trailer and brought them up to the fair.  
The weight is taken -- which can be nervous time as they have to weigh MORE than 225 and less than 310.  
We knew they were more than 225 BUT JM's pig had an eating machine!
So, we were hoping it was under the max -- 
AND...... it was!
The notebooks, with all the details of what they did with their pigs, was handed in!

Tuesday evening they go BACK to the fair for the assigned
PIG BATH TIME!

Wednesday is SHOW DAY!

This day starts very early.
The boys go up to get their animals ready.
Showmanship is the first part of the morning. 
The kids, in age groups, show off their pigs in front of a judge.
The judge is looking for how well the kids do this -- NOT so much at the pig BUT at HOW the kids present the pig.

BOTH boys were in large groups.  
MD had 26 kids in his group and placed 4th this year.

 MD showing his pig!

 MD talking with the judge.  The judge asks each participate something about pigs.
MD answered the question correctly!
It was about a specific cut of meat.

BaJabs, Elizabeth and cousin M. watching the boys.
We LOVED the pig fabric we found!  2 girls wanted shorts and a shirt AND Elizabeth insisted on a t-shirt/peasant style!
OH, so cute!

JM had 23 in his group and placed 4th as well.

JM talking to the judge during his showmanship.  Yes, he answered his question correctly, too!

Next is market.
This time the judge is looking AT THE PIG!
He is looking at how well the pig is ready for market.

MD, JM and dad in the ring at the same time.
Matt helps with the boards while the kids are showing.

The boys were in the same division for market -- heavy weight.
They placed 5th and 6th.

The girls LOVE watching the boys and are very encouraging!
They love watching the hundreds of kids showing different animals as well!

 The girls watching cousin M. while she showed her calf.

MD all finished for the day!
What a good looking kid!!!

Thursday was an insanely busy day!!!
  • Elizabeth had her big clinic appointment for her arms in GR at 9:00 am-- I'll talk about that in a later blog post.
  • My Darling had violin rehearsal at 9:00 am for a recital that was schedule for 7:00 pm.  Thank goodness nanny could help out!
  • Boys and BaJabs went up to the fair to feed animals at 8:30 am
  • Lauren went into start her labor at 5:30 pm
  • Violin recital at 7:00 pm 
Thankfully, this was an INFORMAL recital.  They said to come as you are!
Here is our farmer girl violinist!
  • 4-H livestock auction begins at 7:00 pm -- thankfully, pigs are AFTER the steers/cows.  So, they won't start until 8:00 pm
MD was 35th to sell.
Fillmore Equipment bought his pig for $4.75 a pound!

 MD walking out in front of the crowd!

 LOVE his face here :)


JM asking MD how well he did!
MD did NOT hear the selling price.
He was excited when he found out -- 
It was the 4th highest!

 MD shaking the buyers hand and thanking him!

MD, his pig and the buyer!

JM sold his pig 37th.
Oh, I was praying he would get at least $4.
Well, he got $5.00 per pound (which was 3rd highest) and JM had the BIGGEST pig.
Michigan Freeze Pack bought JM's pig.
THANK-YOU!!!

 JM and his pig on stage for the auction!

 JM with the buyers.


Part of 4-H is promoting your animal.  The boys go and talk to potential buyers about their project.  MD is especially good at this BUT JM is learning.

This is such a good thing for the boys to do!
It teaches responsibility as well as good communication skills!

Other nanny and My Darling watching the auction!

After the auction all of us go back to the barns and chat.
The kids make thank-you's to hang above their pigs for the buyers.

The girlies with 2 of their cousins!


It's been a long week -- and it's only Thursday!

Friday is Tractor-Pulls!  Which is fun for us!  NO WORK!


MD attended a Leadership Retreat Friday evening through Sat. lunch.



Saturday the boys had barn duty from 3 to 6.

The girls and I visited with Lauren and the baby.
The boys stayed at the fair until LATE!

LOVE this picture!
We were all a bit crazy after the LONG days!

Sunday morning the boys had to be up at the fair EARLY for the pigs to be loaded up for market AND to clean out the barns.

11:00 am -- 2012 Fair
COMPLETE -- A SUCCESS!

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