A Good Fair

We showed the cow/calf at their first show of the year last Saturday, August 6. It was a good fair, good show and good premiums. Quizz won her class and Division Reserve Champion. Jazz placed 2^nd in her class. They were 1^st in Cow/Calf and 2^nd in Best Pair of Females.  With Shorthorns being the premier breed at this year’s fair, they earned $340 in premiums.

The calf fit up great, handled really well, and the girls were able to do good with her in showmanship. We found out last minute that there were two groups of the junior showmen, so Andrew could have shown in it with Quizz. But, he is more intimidated with showing in front of a crowd for his first time. He wants to do it, but as competitive as he is, he also always wants to win so he isn’t realizing that the experience he gains now will help him to possibly win later. He said he will show in the junior show showmanship at state fair. The girls both won the same Reserve Champion showmanship rosette in their respective divisions.

 It was Catherine’s first time showing. Jess went with her as a handler to help which is common for Pee Wee Showmanship. There were 6 kids in the class {age 8 and under}. Catherine, at 6, was one of the youngest showmen. She did a good job and is definitely confident in the show ring.  She got the judge’s shake and a taste of winning her first time out.

Jess got to come back in for a championship round in her division of junior youth showmanship, ages 9-13. Jess, at 11, got the judge’s shake right behind an older girl after she had trouble keeping the calf in line at the end. The judge liked how she always had her calf looking good, feet set and head up. I noticed Jess really does have that intensity and style that a good showman has that stands out to a judge. She ought to do really well at her county fair in 4-H showmanship. She really wants to win a buckle one of these days.

It was fun for me, as I got to get out and show again for the first time since high school/college. I showed Jazz, who didn’t handle well and would have been difficult for the kids to show. She did hold still and set up fortunately, but she really fights and pulls with her head and neck when leading out. It was especially fun to be out there in the ring showing cattle with my daughter for the pairs classes.

I am really glad this fair turned out to be so good, so that Jim was happy about us entering this one. I get ambitious to do shows, but he ends up helping a lot. I would have a tough time doing it without him. But, we all had fun. Even Andrew, who is all about sports, was excited to dress up in his jeans, belt and boots each morning and eager to clean stalls, sweep and empty wheelbarrows. He handled the calf by himself more than he ever has and is really learning a lot about everything. It was good to see him really interested in showing cattle. The kids worked well together, took ownership of the tasks, did the work on their own, and were happy doing it.

This fair was a good warm-up for next week when Jess shows 4-H and parents can’t do the work. She is going to really get wiped out with 3 animals to handle on her own her second year, and going independent, she doesn’t have club members to work with. Andrew will be able to help a lot, and hopefully Morgan will be able to come and can help Jess, too.

There are many things that made this Washington fair good, and I wish our fair could model after Clark. Entry fees were only $10. We never paid for parking or entrance to the fair, as they provided free passes to exhibitors. We got into the rodeo and other shows for free. We were able to buy all-day ride bracelets for the kids ahead of time and saved $9. The bracelets were $22 each and the kids used them on Monday when we were there all day, but done showing. The rides there were good and a lot like state fair, so it was a good time to let them do the rides. The superintendents really took care of us, desiring to make everything as accommodating as possible. They treat us like we are an important part of the fair and want us to be happy so we will come back. They were nice to organize a showmanship competition for open class youth and adults that was a lot of fun. They asked Jess to pass out ribbons for the Sunday shows, so she was happy about that. They were relaxed about requirements for out-of-state paper work, etc. that would have been expensive and time consuming to get ready. The fair provides our hay and bedding, delivered to us each morning, and even bags of ice for the ice chest. The fair also hires many people to sweep and clean up in the barn areas. They are there all day and at night in their bright orange shirts. I even saw them scooping poop out of stalls and emptying wheelbarrows. Rushers 4R Ranch was at the show, as well. We stalled next to them and the kids had a good time together. Kylee and Preston Rusher go to school with and are in the same grades as Andrew and Catherine.

The show was Friday AM-Tuesday PM, but we were released by the show vet Tuesday morning to come home as Quizz was running a temp of 104 and watery stools. The change in feed (the fairs in WA provide the hay and it was really green, rich, eastern OR grass hay versus our valley grass hay that we fed), chlorinated water, and stress messed with her system. She got a sulfa bolus Tuesday and has been getting doses of L.A.B. paste probiotics to refresh her gut. It is now Friday, and she is better so we slowly started her back on grain. We are just hoping she will keep growing and stay in good condition for county and state fair the rest of the month.

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Paintball Target Shooting

Our Summer Show Schedule

Aug. 5-9  Clark Co. Fair, Ridgefield, WA
Open Class Shorthorn Show {featured breed} Sat., 8/6 @ 9:00 AM
Classes entered (4)
Lot 2F Early Junior Heifer Calf
Lot 11F Cow

Lot 12F Cow/Calf
Lot 13F Pair of Females

Aug. 16-21  Clackamas Co. Fair, Canby, OR
4-H and Open Class Shorthorn Shows
4-H Classes entered (7)
Tues., 8/16 @ 10:00 AM --Heavyweight Market Steer
Wed., 8/17 @ 10:00 AM--Junior Beef Showmanship
Thurs., 8/18 @ 12:00 PM--Breed Classes {Junior Heifer Calf, Junior Cow, Dam & Produce, Producing Cow with 4-H Production Records, Bred and Owned Female}
Sat., 8/20 @ 9:00--Junior Livestock Auction
Open Classes entered (2)
Fri., 8/19 @ 11:00 AM--Lot 2 Intermediate Heifer Calf, Lot 12 Two-Year Old Cow and Calf

Aug. 29-Sept. 2  Oregon State Fair, Salem, OR
Open and Open Junior Shorthorn Shows, Wed. 8/31 @ 9:00 AM
Oregon Junior Shorthorn Assoc. Classes entered (3)
Class 2 Junior Heifer Calf
Class 10 Cow/Calf Pair
Prospector II Showmanship
American Shorthorn Assoc. PACE show Classes entered (1)
Class 3 Junior Heifer Calf
Oregon Shorthorn Assoc. sponsored Jackpot Class entered (1)
Cow/Calf Pair Jackpot

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Here are the photos from the bareback riding I posted about HERE.
Morgan, Jess, Andrew and Catherine had a great time today!

Better Cowgirls

My girls rode horses bareback and I hauled cattle in the trailer today...we're becoming better all-around cowgirls all the time now! We hauled cattle to Rushers 4R Ranch, less than 5 miles down the road, to get our show cow's hooves trimmed before taking her to Clark County Fair this week, her first show of the year. The hoof trimmer was out to Rushers to trim their show cattles' hooves, so it was nice to be able to haul her down there. When he is already set up at a farm to do hooves and we haul our cow to him, it only cost us $15.00 for the one cow.

So, for about 30 minutes last night, Jim taught me how to hitch, haul and back the truck and trailer, because I have been asking him to teach me. I backed the trailer in close to the cattle gates at the barn, loaded the calf first and then the cow; loading was easy. When we got to Rushers, unloaded the cow and calf and tied them while the trimmer was working on Rushers' bull, Sourpatch. Mike (Rusher) liked our heifer calf, and said he thinks she'll win a lot for us yet this year. He also must have been impressed with Morgan and Jess because he said he ought to hire the to halter break calves for him at weaning.

In the meantime, the four kids (my 3 and niece, Morgan) had fun exploring the big barn, looking at the show cattle, horses, hay loft, etc. First thing Catherine looks for is a gray barn cat that she apparently remembered from when we were there last on sale day, when we bought the steer. I never heard if she found it. Andrew likes looking at their equipment, especially the quads,

Mike made the older girls' day when he asked them if they wanted to ride the horses in their paddocks. I was impressed how they hopped on and just rode bareback with a lead rope tied around like a bridle. They climbed the fence to hop on and took turns switching between the two horses. There was 'the horse that wouldn't go' and 'the old rodeo cow horse' that would take off at the slightest kick of the boot. I bet you can guess which one the girls liked to ride best. Yep, the one with more 'giddy-up'. Catherine and Andrew came over and watched atop the fences, and Catie took a turn being led around for about a minute. She didn't like bareback riding and was scared she was going to fall. Andrew hopped on 'the horse that wouldn't go' and got off when the ride wasn't happenin'.

We were there for 1 1/2 to 2 hours and it was a fun visit at the ranch. Mike helped us load the cattle and backed the trailer for me when we left {because he offered, otherwise I'm sure I would have... :)}, we hauled home, and then I backed it into the barn at home rather quickly if I do say so. I got the trailer into the driveway by the orchard on the first try and then straightened it out, which I don't even remember Jim doing. Just saying. I maybe have to admit he was a good teacher, but I did much better today with out his 'coaching' and stressing me out.

When we unloaded, I washed out the trailer while the girls washed Quizz. Later tonight, we are going to clip her for show. After the girls scrubbed the calf's hooves, I noticed that they need trimmed, too. I got out a hammer and chisel and shaped them up. They look really good now. I can't wait to clip her up tonight. She'll look really good.

it's August, and that means...FAIR time!

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Clackamas County 4-H Livestock Field Day/ Master Showmanship Clinic, July 31, Sandy, OR

4-H livestock showmen from Clackamas county gathered Sunday in Sandy at the farm of a 4-H leader from the Sandy Livestock Club, to learn about showing all 9 species of animals they will show at the Master Showmanship competition at fair. Only those who win showmanship in their age division will get to go on to compete for the Master Showmanship buckles, but it is a coveted title worthy of spending a day in practice in case they get such an opportunity. Master Showmanship also includes a written test with 10 questions per species to assess the showman's knowledge of each animal, so the kids did a quiz bowl at lunch of questions they might face on that test.

Morgan, Jessica & Catherine participated in the showmanship clinic. They wore score cards around their neck and the highest scorers got to pick from the prize table first at the end of the day. The prize table was full of donated show equipment, clothing, boots, etc. Jess There was probably 40 kids and Jess placed in the top 5 or so. She had 6 perfect tens on her scorecard, and 79 out of 90 possible. Morgan was close with a 75, doing very well as the Champion Junior Master Showman of Marion county. Catherine had a great time and was a fearless little showman handling the big cows with no apprehension. I asked her about that picture of her with the lamb where she was looking down at it with such a loving gaze. She said she did kiss that lamb it was so cute. She didn't want prizes as much as she wanted to take the animals home. The 3 girls got some good prizes: a rubber feed pan, rope halter and neck rope, nylon goat halters, livestock shampoo, candy bars, show shirts and jeans.

The boys stayed home today, went to church, ran errands, cleaned toilets {I know, I'm a lucky one--what a surprise}, froze marionberries, napped, watched sports, made homemade ice cream, strung pole beans and worked in the garden.