Fair is Done?

Yes, Rachel, the county fair is over - until next year. The rides are all taken down, the exhibits are all (hopefully) taken to their perspective homes, and the animals are taken to their potential final destination.

Grace got to get interviewed 

I had the chance this year to go help out at the 4-H booth at the fair - Monday through Sunday - which I love. Why? 'cause I love the fair. My responsibilities consisted of checking paper work, answering questions, looking like I knew what was happening, stepping in for superintendents, vet checking rats and lizards, being ready to give a smile ;), and running to go see my siblings showing their sheep. :)

The last night, as is tradition, we went on rides (after putting way to much food into my stomach). We've always had a time frame saying, "Let's be back by 10 to help load the rest of the lambs and then be able to pick up some of our exhibits." This means that you have about 3 rides that you can go on - the last night the lines are always really long.

The Fair is in Full Swing

It's still dark at 5:42am...

Technically, it was in full swing last Friday, but we have just gotten back from our first full day at the fair. We
(Josh, Grace, and I) got up early - until you hear that our friends got up at 3:00am.

Hurdle #1 at the CC Fair: Vet Check

Slightly lighter 10 minutes later

This usually goes really well and we expected the same this year. The weather was dry, so we didn't have to worry about hoof rot but we've never had to deal with sore mouth before; however, now we know what sore mouth looks like and will be discovering how to heal it as Joshua and Madeline's lambs couldn't enter the fair because of it. I always feel badly for the people who don't make it. Was there anything I could have done to help change that? I had not even thought about the vet check and jumped to the second hurdle. I don't love it but it is a great assurance to know that God is in total control and has a perfect plan. Josh and Madeline - they are being a great example to everyone else in the sheep barn. I'm blessed by them.

Morning in the fairgrounds in the
stadium

Hurdle #2 at the CC Fair: Final Weigh-In
This one always makes everyone nervous. Each lamb needs to gain about .4lbs everyday to be able to sell at the auction (though more is acceptable). With all the warm weather, the lambs hadn't been eating as much, which caused their owners to be slightly paranoid. All of us who entered the fair were able to jump this hurdle as well.

Hurdle #3 at the CC Fair: Market Ready
This won't happen till tomorrow, but this is where the judge will go and make sure there is enough meat on the lamb to sell. Rarely, but sometimes, will a lamb pass Weigh-In and not pass the Market Ready - so we're all hoping that that will remain case.

Tomorrow is another fun day and there are still things to do tonight - I should get going.

~Rachel

Fun at the Fair

The Clark County Fair started Friday!
We all did well with what we entered.

This is just a sample of what was entered....

All this was fun - fun Friday to be precise. On Wednesday, we bring our animals (I mean Josh, Grace, James, Zachary, Megan, and Madeline bring their animals) to the fair.

And I have to post about Saturday. "The Deiter 100" took place and we raced all over Clark County and Northern Portland.

This Superman Team was pretty super!

("The Deiter 100" is like the "Amazing Race".) 

Zachary James and Ryan David

Oh! By the way, the family I'll be staying with had their twins July 27th! Since the picture was posted on Facebook, I've place it on my blog. :)

Have a fantastic week!