My daughters first OK state fair

To say that the State fair was another learning experience for me, would be an understatement.  It never ceases to amaze me, that people can have cattle looking that perfectly, at every single show.  It just taught me that I have even more to learn in order to keep my daughter's calf competetive in the show ring.  I figure many of these steers will look differently when they're 1350, but I was still really impressed with the quality I saw up there.  We just didn't have enough finish on our calf. 

I was very proud of my daughter, and the job she did showing her calf.  She did a good job with her steer being uncooperative  in  showmanship class but didnt' win, and then she was 2nd in her class with him.  She did a good job, and is starting to understand why we work so hard with our cattle at home.  I don't know what to do to keep her steer from wanting to lick her when she's showing him.  I was thinking about trying some Sour Apple spray on her shirt sleeve, hey it works with dogs.  They won't touch the stuff, maybe the steer won't want to lick it either..... heck I don't know.

We were penned right next to the show ring, in what I would call "the petting zoo."  I should've made a sign that said CATTLE KICK to keep people away from them, but didn't.  Friday evening at about 10:30pm, there was a fella come through there pushing a lady in a wheelchair, and he wheeled her up behind my daughter's standing steer so the lady could pet him.  I kinda barked at that guy a little bit, but hey... our steer kicks and she was not in a position to get out of the way.  :  I tried to be pretty understanding of most people when they walked through and wanted to touch the calves and ask questions.  I got pretty nervous a few times and had to explain to a few of them that what they were doing was unsafe.  I still think baby strollers, wheelchairs, dogs and balloons should be outlawed in cattle barns though.  When we were about 25 feet from entering the showring with my daughter's steer, a little boy threw a balloon right in front of him.  Luckily the whole situation didn't go badly, but it sure could've. 

Overall it was a neat experience and we really enjoyed it.  The show was a fun one to take the family to, and we got to hit the rides and graze on the junk food during the fair too.  It was a good time.

I totally understand about the "barking at stupid people"  every year it  amazes me the number of parents who will park their strollers with young children in them behind the calves with balloons or yard sticks waving around in the air.  They wonder why the cattle act a little nervous.  Then they have the nerve to ask why we bring wild cattle to the shows!!! 

I really don't know what people are thinking when they turn their toddlers loose in the cattle barn!  I was clipping a heifer in the chute and saw a little girl, maybe 16-18 months old, standing about 3 feet from the side of this heifer, who's been known to kick from time to time.  I got between them and found her mom around the corner chatting away.  I tried to tell her it wasn't safe, but I don't think the 'city folk' get it.  They are totally clueless.

I wish I could say that it is just the "city folk" that are clueless, but it isn't.  We are in a very rural area and quite a few people that come to our local fairs do the same stuff.  I think they see our wonderfully manicured cattle being led around, in our case, by a 7 and 8 year old, or see our kids washing, brushing, etc. and think that they are Clifford the Big Red Dog.  I love those that have the touch first and ask if its OK only if someone happens to look up when they are touching.  We have pretty laid back cattle, but, they do have a mind of their own, and fortunately a mind that operates with a higher IQ than some fair go'ers. Without the people visiting though, what kind of fair would it be?  It will happen as long as there are cattle shows and you never know........ maybe that kid that pats one of my animals will someday pick up the show bug as well!  One can only hope! 

Nothing worse than people wanting to pet your recently fitted show heifer as your fixing to walk into the show ring at ft worth!!! Frustration.

stangs13 said:

Nothing worse than people wanting to pet your recently fitted show heifer as your fixing to walk into the show ring at ft worth!!! Frustration.

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agreed. when we are going into the showring i am known to tell the city people off. i am sorry but i dont go to were they work and mess up their paper work so they have to straighten it back out, why should i let them get my calf nervous and mess up its hair after i spend sometimes an hour getting it the way i want it.