The county fair started on Tuesday with judging day. This was the first year Jayden wasn't part of the fair, so it felt different not having her along. Judging went extremely slow, some of the judges took forever and the kids would be in line over an hour. Grandma met us and always likes to watch everything going on. She gets anxious and cant sit still. I tell her every year she should be a judge, but she says she cant sit still. I still hope she will, she would enjoy it. Jake took 3 photos, two sunset and one of his Chevy truck. He got all blue ribbons. He also took a display project teaching about the benefits of vertical tillage. He learned a lot while doing the project and has been running the Salford the past two springs. His project was held back and will go on to the state fair! Luke had 5 photos, two were photos he took for Jayden's business, one kitten photo, and a couple farm photos. He had two held back , the kitten received a purple ribbon. Luke had a 4H communications poster that got a red because we didn't have the 4H clover copyrighted properly. He got a purple for his Branches of the Military poster and a state fair on his Shotgun ammunition poster. Wahoo! I was so excited both boys got a state fair award and will be part of the parade of champions. Jake told me that is his favorite part of the fair and if he didn't get to go, he would have been very sad.
During fair week, we also juggled getting Jake to art class Monday through Thursday in Boone from 7-8:30. The class was teaching watercolor projects. Jake did such a good job. I walked in the second night and the teacher was using Jake's project as an example to the other students complimenting him and showing his contrast and how awesome he did.
Wednesday was our calm before the crazy day during fair. The one day nothing was going on and we tried to relax. Thursday evening I took Luke and his horse Tex to the fair by myself. It is usually something we all help with. This year Jayden Jake and Mark were baling hay, and hauling round bales. It was hot like it always is. Luke and I unloaded all the tack, feed, supplies, and got Tex settled in his stall.
Friday Luke and I went back early to the fair to do chores and watch some of the beef show. This was the first year I didn't have a relative showing cattle. Jaynie didn't have anything to show, Ryilie didn't take anything to fair, and Maggie was in Nationals with her Hereford. Luke stayed with his friends Joe and Alex for the day. During the beef show the cattlemen grilled so I brought home sandwiches for the kids, Tony, and Mark who were moving round bales. I went back in the evening and Luke and I spent the night in the camper/Bloomer. It is such a nice trailer and I actually enjoy staying in it. Saturday morning it was horse show time. Luke and I set an alarm in the camper and were up and feeding by 7. We were pretty tired. Luke fed Tex and cleaned out his stall. We gave him a bath too. Jayden and Mark came early to help. Jayden banded Tex's mane real nice for him. Tex was a little impatient standing and waiting. Luke took him in halter class and he was more relaxed. Luke had his cowboy hat on and a blue shirt. Tex was looking so good. He was in great condition, a little on the heavy side, which the halter classes like. When the judge chose Tex for reserve champion, we were all surprised. It was so cool.The champion was an obvious bred and raised halter bloodline show horse. It was pretty exciting to see our ranch rope horse beat out so many others and get reserve champ.
Showmanship went well. Luke was last to walk his horse and was the only one to do the pattern correctly out of the 4 kids. He got Tex to trot an tried to set him up. He did his quarters for the judge and looked so cute out there. Showmanship was one class that I am not an expert in and we didn't practice a lot. I figured he would just be in it to get points. Luke won his first trophy in showmanship! Next it was trail class. He and Tex went through the course like a pro. Walk over the bridge, trot over logs, back, and open the rope gate. It went well, and he got another trophy. All was going well, next up was western pleasure. Luke was the only one in his division to sign up for the class so we knew it would be a trophy and all he had to do was be in the class. Luke had not been loping his horse all that long and wasn't totally confident. I was a little worried for him,but I thought he could do it. Luke was so determined because he wanted to do everything he could to earn the junior overall point buckle.When Tex entered the arena alone for western pleasure he got a little excited and was wanting to prance a little. I think being in the arena alone to Tex means he is ready to run. I could see the fear in him and he was looking to me wanting to head right back out of the arena. He was shaking his head. One of his project leaders walked him back to the rail and gave him a pep talk. Luke did his class and was loping pretty fast but had control. Luke did not enjoy the class much but we praised him so much for sticking with it. He got another trophy. The next class was horsemanship. Luke had a pattern and did a half circle at the lope. Tex really wanted to take off fast for Luke and it scared him a little. He handled him and finished the class. He was ready to be done after that and ended the show day with the fun class, costume. Luke and i had a quick and simple costume for Tex. We put sunglasses on him and a beach towel around his neck. Luke wore his beach clothes and they pulled off a cute costume. It's a lot of fun to see all the costumes. The winner this year was the person with the most crowd cheers, which naturally was the girls large family. The show day was hot, it always is, very very hot.
After the horse show it is always the big sweet corn feed and the 4H club sells ice cream. It is always unbearably hot and you sit in the sun and we are sweaty stinky and dirty form the horse show. Yeah its not my favorite, but we go. It was great to finally take a shower, even if it was a quick one in the camper with a hand held sprayer. both Jayden and Jake stayed the night.
Sunday morning was rough. I did not sleep well worrying about how Tex would be for Luke on game day. The alarm went off at 6:45 and it was so early. I felt the heat as I stepped out of the camper and it was much hotter than other mornings. I knew it was going to be a cooker. I got Jake up, who had been sleeping on the hard floor of the camper and told him to crawl in my spot on the bed next to Jayden. The camper is suited for 3 people. Luke and I did chores and I lunged Tex awhile hoping to burn off some excess energy. The show started at 9AM with Wahlert grandparents. Karen, and Mark watching. Break the Gait was over when they said stop your horses. Tex creeped ahead a few extra steps. Egg and spoon all the kids in his group dropped their egg at the first trot. Tex was getting a little anxious each time he went in, sometimes he wouldn't go in, and he was ready to go fast. Luke was able to hold him back at a trot, but you could tell Tex was just waiting to go. Poles went well, then barrels, flags, and a mystery event where they got off their horse and spun around a bat 7 times and led their horse back. Each event, Luke was gaining confidence and each event Tex would go a little faster. It was not an easy ride for Luke, Tex was fired up and he had to keep hold on the reins or Tex would be running. Luke never got scared enough to quit. He persevered and kept going to the very end. It was so awesome to see him gain confidence and not quit! It was a good day for showing and were all relieved when it was over.
At 1:30 Luke was cleaned up and tuning his guitar ready for Share the Fun talent competition. He played,"Wildwood Flower" a song his instructor had been working with him on. It is really fast and has a neat tune. It seems hard to play with quick fingering. Share the Fun was dreadful with a couple 4H council members talking between performances. They were awkward, monotone, and just made it about unbearable. Luke played his guitar really well and sounded great. The judges only pick 2 to 4 to go on to the state fair and the rest get participation ribbons. We also knew that one of the perks to participating is in the fall, he would get to go as a group to an ISU football game. It was great for Luke to perform on a stage and he doesn't seem to get too nervous. It was hot outside so sitting in the air conditioning for awhile was nice.
Later we did chores and Rylie, Jake, and Luke went to the Truck pulls. I stayed in the Bloomer camper until late when they brought Luke back. Jake went on and stayed the night with Rylie. Luke and I stayed again in the camper.At 5:00PM the kids had to be dressed in their best and ready to attend the "Parade Of Champions" dinner. All the 4H'ers who have had a project go on to state or had a champion in their livestock class get to attend the dinner. It is always a big deal and fun for the kids. The horse project group likes to take a group photo, ride together, and sit together. Jake wanted to make sure he got to ride along with Kelsi. N. too. She drove a big loud truck and Jake was all about that. Luke got to ride with her too. That was the highlight for the boys. The food at the dinner, I have heard is never good, and this year they split the horse project kids up.
Back at the fairgrounds, the parents were busily working to clean pens and get livestock ready to go home as soon as allowed. At 6 the kids were back and each one walked across a stage to be recognized for their champion awards. The horse project group also presented awards. Luke got Reserve Champion for Junior division. Nick and Susie are the leaders and do such a great job with the kids, encouraging and helping any way they can. They presented Luke with'"The Most Improved Rider Award". Luke was honored and surprised. There were only 4 juniors and any one of them could have gotten that award. Susie could see how hesitant Luke was about loping his horse this summer. It took several meetings and Susie coaxing him to lope his horse. Each meeting and especially during the fair, he got more and more confident. Luke was so excited and smiles from ear to ear. It made all his work and determination worth it. That is what I like about 4H, the lessons you learn along the way.
Finally we could load up everything and head home.
Later we gathered the kids ribbons and awards for a photo. Looks like another successful year!
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