Ross County Fair - Day 4 (Junior Fair Night)

    Last night was Junior Fair Night at the Ross County Fair.  I hear it was a great time.  That's right, I "heard" it.  That's because I wasn't actually there.  The Kid was there, but I wasn't.  He's been staying at the fairgrounds with friends for the past couple of nights so he was already there to enjoy the fun.  I, however, was informed that it's "junior" fair night and I'm in the "senior" part of the fair.  Then there was some jabbering on about cramping his style, yada yada yada...  Ok, I got it.  No Mom allowed.  Thank goodness the Kid needed a ride to the preliminary Outhouse Race so I can still post a picture of their outhouse creation.
    So now you're wondering what actually goes on at Junior Fair Night.  Well, I may not have been there, but I am still in the know.  There is a fabulous Apple Pie Auction.  Kids are chosen from the different 4-H clubs to make a pie.  The pies are judged, places are given, and then the top pies are auctioned off for funds to go towards next year's Junior Fair Night.  
    Other activities that go on are the Lip Sync Contest (where teams lip sync and boogie to various upbeat songs I don't understand the words to), Calf Scramble, and the Outhouse Race I had mentioned.  The Outhouse Race is a blast!  At least watching the preliminary races was, so I'm going to assume the fun carries over to the actual race.  Kids (with adult help) build outhouses on wheels of various themes.  Our 4-H club, the Ragged Ridge Ramblers, went with a theme from that movie Madagascar this year.  Then there are others like the one with the Nike-ish symbol and the slogan "Just Poo it," and the Doodie Patrol.  I think you get the picture.  A lot of them are poop themed.  Honestly, a lot of work and creativity go into the outhouses and the kids can get mighty creative.  This year the Kid was the outhouse rider.  He sat on the, er, pot? Throne? Toilet?  And four other kids pushed it to the finish line.  You can see a picture of the Kid in the top picture.  We're so proud.  Then the bottom is one of his team getting ready for the race.  The Kid and his Ragged Ridge Ramblers/Madagascar outhouse didn't win, but I know they had a fantastic time last night.
    The Calf Scramble is something the Kid has had his eyes on for a couple of years.  Not everyone gets to participate or there wouldn't be a calf left in the county.  Kids have to send in an application or something like it and then there is some method of choosing who gets to participate.  The calves are hearded into a center area at the grandstand.  Then the kids particpating are hearded into another area.  The object is to be one of the kids that gets a halter on their calf.  Oh, and there are more kids than calves.  After that there's a second go at it where the kids who don't have a calf get another chance by getting a hold of one and getting it to a designated area to be able to keep it.  Of course, all of this is done with grace and there is no trying to steal each other's calves...right?  Ok, so that's no true.  I like to think of it that way, though.  I picture it as being more like several parents going into the toy store at the same time to get that last Tickle Me Elmo doll.  It's all in good fun, the kids have a blast, and those that end up with a calf get to raise it and take it to next year's fair for show.
    So, there you have it folks.  I wasn't there, but I do know what goes on.  The Kid went, he rode the outhouse and he had a blast watching the other festivities.  Oh, and I will not reveal my sources for the information because I have a stinking feeling I won't be allowed to go next year either.  What's on tap for today?  Taking poultry to the fair for the open class poultry judging in the morning

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