The Fair

Last Wednesday through Saturday was the Owyhee County Fair. We prepared for fair all summer and it is hard to believe it has come and gone. To say we are proud of Annie and Emma for all their hard work and growth is an understatement.

Getting the lambs ready for fair meant scrubbing their woolly little bodies with dawn and hosing them down. What better place to tie them up than the mailbox? After they were all clean we loaded them up to take them to be sheered.

Yes, Emma is kissing her lamb.

Wednesday morning Travis, Annie, and Emma took the lambs down to the fair to check in and to be weighed. Both girls then had the responsibility of staying down at the fair to make sure their lambs stayed cool, clean, fed, watered, and happy. Travis was there almost the entire time, and when he left for a few minutes he left them with my cell phone. I got a call about every five minutes!

Wednesday afternoon Grandma Amy and Papa arrived. We were so happy they could come experience the fair with us and see firsthand how well the girls have done.

Wednesday night was Jake's night in the rodeo. It is his third year mutton bustin' and his first year being legally old enough. For the first time he made it out of the chute and stayed on the sheep until the sheep fell over. In past years he has cried and cried after his turn was finished. This year he finished with a grin! He and his dad celebrated with a diet coke.

Thursday was the sheep show. The girls are grouped by age and are judged first on how well they show their lambs. Before the show the lambs were beautified through yet another bath, a blow dry, and brushing.

Annie and Emma both did very well putting into action all that they have learned this summer. They interacted very well with the judge and handled their animals perfectly.

We were so thankful that Grandpa and Grandma Jo could come. Grandpa's health has been such a roller coaster. We had prepared ourselves realizing that a day in the heat sitting in a barn at the Owyhee County fair would be too much for him. But, combine the fact that he is one tough cookie with sheer determination, and there he came. He lasted all day! It was so nice to have them share the day with us.

After showmanship comes quality. The lambs are grouped by size and the judge goes through and out of each class picks the top two lambs. There were five total classes. Because of the way the lambs are grouped the girls compete regardless of age and experience and are put up against kids of all ages from 8 to 18. In Annie's class she took first place!!! Emma took second in her class!

Because they were both in the top two in their class they went to the finals. The judge quickly picked the grand champion lamb and had a terrible time deciding between Annie's lamb and another for reserve champion. Ultimately he went with the other lamb. Regardless, we couldn't be more proud. Annie and Emma worked so hard and took such good care of their animals. Of about seventy sheep they were in the top ten. Pretty incredible for their first year!

Annie in showmanship:

Emma in quality. Look at them in there with those high school kids!

Saturday was sale day. The day I have been dreading since we joined 4H this winter. Again, the lambs were washed and beautified. The lambs are sold by how well they do in the quality show. So, Annie and Emma were right at the first. As we prepared to go in the sale ring, I could see it sinking in to poor Emma. Annie was nervous so I was standing with her. I mouthed to Emma asking her if she was ok. She shook her head yes. About three minutes later Emma called for me and as soon as we made eye contact she burst into tears. So did I. The poor thing was crying so hard she could hardly stand. We bought our lambs from Fishers and were hoping that they would buy them back to become moms this spring. But, in an open sale, you never know. Even the thought of her lamb going back to Fishers was no comfort to Emma. She still wanted her little lamb in the backyard.

This picture says 1000 words. Heartbreaking.

Thank heavens for lots of love and support
Annie in the sale ring.

Emma in the sale ring.

Both lambs were sold to Fishers for $1000 each. The girls get to keep 20%. Ten for tithing and ten to spend. The rest will go into their bank accounts. Even such a high price at the sale didn't take the sting out for poor Emma. But, Fishers have promised she can go over anytime she likes. She would like to work for them. Such a sweet girl.

Did I mention how proud we are?