Ross County Fair - Day 3

    Let me start off by saying, "Yes, I know it's actually day 4."  We were at the fair almost all day yesterday.  When we got back it was late and I was tired.  Trust me, it was better that I post now than stumble through my story late last night.
    Yesterday was our busy day at the fair.  I always say if I can make it through Monday's fair day the rest is smooth sailing.  Monday is the day the Kid shows all of his animals.  It's also free ride afternoon for kids.  Basically parental chaos.
    The morning started normal, like any other fair morning.  Do chores here, get the Kid to the fair to feed and water his turkeys, chickens, and sheep, and then come home.  Only difference was free rides for kids started at noon, so we weren't here long before heading back with Young'un and Eldest.  I'll tell you about free ride afternoon tomorrow...that's a whole other story.  Now, back to what's on my mind...
    At 4:30 always starts the 4-H/FFA Poultry show.  The 4-H/FFA Sheep Breeding show starts at no pre-determined time.  We only know it starts after Sheep Showmanship, which begins at 4:00, so pardon my language, but it's a crap shoot as to when the Sheep Breeding show starts and if the Kid will be able to finish showing his poultry before having to head over to the sheep barn.  Inevitably I stay at the poultry show while Hon is at the sheep barn so the sheep are ready to go.  We call back and forth to keep in touch as to where they are with the showmanship.  This year we even had our friend and 4-H sheep advisor, Neil, in the game, too.  He has my number, I have his, and he was going to call when Showmanship was about over in case we were still at the poultry barn.  Totally confused you, huh!  There are also a few other 4-H kids involved who volunteered to help the Kid with his sheep because he's not the sheep whisperer and can't walk three out at the same time by himself.  I have their numbers to call when it's about time to show the sheep, and also to remind them to get changed out of those t-shirts and into shirts with a collar because there's a dress code to follow.  WHEW - I'm getting tired just reminiscing about yesterday! 
    Now you are wondering how the Kid did with his showings.  He did just fine and we are proud of the wonderful care he gives his animals.  He didn't place in the chicken show this year, which is a first, but even so he had a great trio of Mille Fleur d'uccles.  We've seen the fancy chicken breeding program grow over the past 4 years and I'm happy to see it!  All of the poultry, be it chickens, turkeys, or ducks, were fantastic!  For the turkeys, he shows his pair of Royal Palms.  They received the 5th place ribbon.
    For his sheep breeding project, which are his Icelandics, he shows Little Man, Z, Lucy, and Minnie.  Little Man received a nice purple ribbon for Breed Champion aged ram, which is a ram 2 or older.  Lucy and Z competed against each other in the yearling ewe category with Z receiving both the purple Breed Champion ribbon for yearling ewes/1st place, and Lucy receiving 2nd.  What really surprised us was Minnie.  She's the baby - born in May.  Tiny little bugger.  She had to go out and compete against her mom (Lucy) and her half-sister, Z.  We figured Z would be the winner. She has really grown well since last year's fair, filled out grand, stockier, and has nice fleece  The judge confirmed this.  Minnie is a finer ewe (like Lucy) with quality fleece like her dad (Little Man).  So...who did she pick?  Minnie!  I'm still in shock.  When the judge announced Minnie as the Champion Breed Ewe and handed Samuel her trophy I about fell off the bleachers!  No joke!  I even laughed.  I know, bad Sharon.  I think it's absolutely fabulous that she plunked that trophy away from her Aunt Z.  Never would have thought in a million years that would happen!  We are very happy with the Kid and win or lose, he takes great care of his sheep!  Icelandic sheep are a wonderful breed!
    So, there you have it folks.  Went to the fair, came home from the fair, went to the fair, stayed a looong time, and came home again.  In between we had a great time watching all of the animals being shown.  A big congratulations goes out to all of the kids showing at the fair this week.  Win or lose, tears of joy or sorrow, you are all winners in my mind!  Smiling & Waving, Sharon

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