Jess & Jazz at home before fair--needed a 'friendly' photo to put up on the stall card.
Every morning, after feeding, they'd be at the wash racks. Jess was usually the last one in and out--still learning the wash routine at her first show!
After washing, into the chute to blow dry and set the hair.
The first day of fair, entering the show ring for the open class Shorthorn show, Jess tripped, spooked her heifer, and was stepped on by the 1200 pound animal. She was unable to show, as the paramedics were busy checking her out. There was some concern over the extent and seriousness of her injury to the upper leg, and the paramedics had her in the ambulance at one point. After further evaluation, we decided I would drive her to the ER to be checked out. Her injury turned out to be a very large 'hematoma contusion'--or in other words--a very large bruise! Grandma, cousin Morgan, little brother and sister, who were en route to the show already, changed their course and met us at the ER in Oregon City instead. A few interesting stories from the ER--when checking J in, the young receptionist asked what had happened and when I told her she was stepped on by a 1200 pound cow at the fair, the girl ACTUALLY stated, "Oh, well, that's not that big is it?" Ahhhh, hmmmm....did I not just say 1200 pounds? Seriously, to this day I don't get that comment. Next, we had a visit from a woman chaplain who came in to the room we were put in. She was just there for support and see if she could be of any comfort, so she asked questions about the fair and then told stories about growing up on a farm herself. Several minutes later, as she was leaving she goes, "Well, I guess I'll be MOOO-ving on now," and she laughed at her own joke. Morgan, Jess and I exchanged looks and saved our snickers for after she was gone. But, then I noted a panicked look on Jess's face, and she said, "Mom!" with disgust. "What?" "She didn't even check my leg!" Jess had thought that woman was the doctor and couldn't believe she never even checked her out. Hilarious. Finally, after the doctor, a man, finally did come in and check her out (he was quick to assess the situation and note that his patient was without major injury), Jess had her leg wrapped and was dressed again in the shorts we brought in for her. As we were leaving the girls decorated the room's dry erase board with comments: "I was stepped on by a 1200 pound cow!" Now how often do you think they come across that in this ER? Most likely, never again.
The next morning, bolstered by huge support from everyone as word got around the fairgrounds that she was the girl who got stepped on yesterday, she entered the ring with confidence and made her mommy very proud. I could not believe how well she did for her first show, and showmanship class at that! She placed third behind sixth graders who were two years older and third year juniors. Her cow didn't stand still for the judge, but sidestepped a bit when he came to handle her. This got them out of line a bit, but Jess recovered and was able to keep her still for the judge's second pass. Jess was pleased with how she did, too.
Jess & Jazz in the stalls, that we all helped whitewash the Saturday before the fair, by the way. That is a yearly project when you come to set up for fair. Jazz's neck rope I made myself with a ring and clip. I haven't taught Jess how to make rope halters yet, though. That is a good lesson for this year.
A look at the barns and tack area with Morgan, Grandma (my mom), Catherine, and Jess. My mom made that little red tack box for Jess and Jim put casters and a latch and lock on. We also got outfitted in the summer with an old blue blower we purchased second hand, and small blocking clippers, show stick, hair stimulator comb, comb holder and all the sprays ordered from Sullivan's. The blocking chute, leather show halter, large clippers, a comb and 2 brushes, a bucket and feed pan were all hand-me-downs from my show days, which we were lucky to not have to purchase. We were also sporting a very nice, new (barely used) stock trailer we purchased a few years ago from our neighbor. All things considered, Jess has it very good. Surrounded by people with experience has certainly put her ahead for just starting out.
Cowgirl Catie spent much of her time at fair sitting and 'holding' this sweet little calf stalled the next aisle over. She was in her element for sure.
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