2012 Fair picks

Here are some pictures of the steer I posted earlier, he finished 3rd in the FFA Black Blk/white division (we have 2 divisions Blk blk/white and then the AOC) FFA and 4H champions compete for grand. The boy did a good job feeding, raising and showing the calf, this was his first year. He got all he could out of the calf so I can't complain. He will compete in the local bred and fed class today, that pays 300 for the winner.
I have also included the pictures of the champion, this is the third year in a row for this boy, he won with a hiefer last year. He is a good kid, from a good family and spends hours a day with his animals, and it shows.
The funny thing someone over heard a spectator say, " does he just bring the same animal every year?"

Always makes for a good show when preppie lost but you can tell they don't work with there project!

Same when you look around in the barn where the cattle are at for the fair and there are no kids to be found... until the day of the show.

Ohio1, I really don't think we have anymore of those families. The kids that work are showing up at the top and the ones who do not are at the bottom. I'm sure there might be a few that get a little more help from mom and dad but nothing like "here is your calf, we call him ------, see you when you get out of the ring".
All in all there good kids, that try.
The pig deal is where the real craziness seems to be going on anymore, my boys quit with the pigs about 6 years ago and I'm glad. Feed is about $28 for a bag and you probably can spend another 200 on supplements to get them just right. Then they can change on you overnight. They look right, they don't look right, oh wait they look right again.

We had 95 steers
300+ hogs
200+ sheep
100+ Goats
15 Veal
entered this year.
I have no idea on the chickens, rabbits or turkeys.

I was at the show yesterday and was very impressed with the number of entries your fair has.  If I remember correctly the young man you are helping was in one of the more competitive classes.  He did a good job.  As you said it was pretty evident who worked with their animals and who just showed up. 

How long has the fair not allowed grooming products to be used?  It kind of looked to me like some of the kids used that rule as an excuse not to work the hair on their animal, and it sounded like the judge had similar thoughts.  All in all it was an impressive show. 

My money is on the FFA champion winning overall.  The judge really seemed to like him. 

Good luck in the bred and fed show.  Please tell us how he places, and how many bred and fed there were in the show.

They stopped allowing product back in the late 80's, between the old sewer system and the water shortage. for the longest time you could only wash your animal if it was dirty and you had to get permission. over the last 5-6 years things have gotten better, the new beef barn, you can rinse your steer when  you need to.

As far as the calves and grooming, yes some kids use it as a reason to do nothing, and some of the school farms are not really set up the best for calves. As you may have noticed, their is a wide range of type and quality of calves as there is presentation styles .

I will brag that we probably have some of the best weather for a summer show, I believe it was clear with a slight breeze off of the ocean, and about 76 degrees for a high.

Moezmom: How did you like the judge, I thought he did a real nice job, you could follow him and he stayed the coarse all day. I know allot of the classes were not that hard to Judge, but when it got tough I thought he was right on every time. He was one of the tougher judges on structure that I have seen, at least at our county fairs.

They will not give out the Bred and fed winners until closing ceremonies on the 4th, the kids are at the fair for 10 days, moving out on the 11th day this year. Makes for a very long fair, Champion drive is tonight, auction on Saturday, showmanship Monday and Tuesday, Round Robbin and awards on the 4TH

vc said:

They stopped allowing product back in the late 80's, between the old sewer system and the water shortage. for the longest time you could only wash your animal if it was dirty and you had to get permission. over the last 5-6 years things have gotten better, the new beef barn, you can rinse your steer when  you need to.

As far as the calves and grooming, yes some kids use it as a reason to do nothing, and some of the school farms are not really set up the best for calves. As you may have noticed, their is a wide range of type and quality of calves as there is presentation styles .

I will brag that we probably have some of the best weather for a summer show, I believe it was clear with a slight breeze off of the ocean, and about 76 degrees for a high.

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VC, I have been to that show years ago. Good to see it is still up and going. It was a fun fair. Have  you shown at LA County fair, that is a big one?!
Nice calf in the pics. Good job!

VC, your weather was one of the reasons we made the two hour drive to see the show!! 

I totally agree with your thoughts on the judge.  My group though he was excellent (although our teenage girls weren't necessarily listening to his comments -they were surprisingly attentive to his movement in the ring  )  We were impressed that he spent as much (if not more) time deciding the placing of the bottom animals as he did the top, without dragging everything out unnecessarily. 

Again, congrats to your community for such a strong showing of animals.  Even with such a wide range of type and quality of animals and showmen it is a testament to your communities support of the project that you have so many competing.

We will keep our fingers crossed for you on the Bred and Fed!!

Mark Tenenbaum- haha ya that happens at our fair. But the kids I see in there are the ones that end up winning so it all evens out. Sometimes I don't even know who's showing a particular calf until they walk into the ring with it. I can't stand not being with my steer in the barn

Glad that the weather was good for your fair! It's always easier on the calves. Mine is in a month and I hope it cools down. It's supposed to be 100 plus degrees for the next 10 days.

Moezmom, I think the boys felt the same way about the pig judge, she judged the beef Bred and Fed, one of the younger boys (14) kept blushing every time she asked him a question. I think the boy I helped kept finding things to talk to her about (he's 16). Both judges did an excellent job sorting, and giving reasons, I really like the way she talks to the kids about their animal as she sorts them, shows them the area the animal is week in and uses an animal that is strong in that area to show the difference. Did not agree always with the hogs she went with but over all could follow her reasoning.

As for the beef judge, I do not think it was just the girls, the moms kept track of him pretty good to. I think I heard one girl say "did you get a good picture of the judge" to my wife as she was taking pictures of calves, and if I'm not mistaken I believe I heard her say "yes".

OK, now I HAVE to ask to have someone post a picture of the Judge.
Sounds like he was "eye candy"!! LOL
EF

OK ladies, here you go.

I do not remember his name but he was out of Kansas.

vc said:

OK ladies, here you go.

I do not remember his name but he was out of Kansas.

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Yep, my kids would call that eye candy!!!  (lol)

vc said:

OK ladies, here you go.

I do not remember his name but he was out of Kansas.

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Brigham Stewart is who that is. I agree, he is consistent, and he can talk a set of cattle for what they are without a doubt.