just got back from the state fair in CA. only saw AOB and maines, herefords. judge commented contiually on freshness. i have some pictures i'll post tomorrow or so. a kadabra heifer won maine overall. great loose, smooth walking heifer, still didn't walk in her tracks, had some flex in her pasterns and great flex in her knees and hocks. i'm thinking she looked a little big fronted. i took some pictures of a class winner in AOB who never took one step with any flex in her pastern. there was also a cow judge commented on on being extremely sound. i took a pic of her front feet and one digit was larger than the other on both front feet, she walked on one of them more than the other and they pointed out, but she didn't walk in and out. one other one he said was "correct", the calf's hocks were rubbing. i was getting a little disappointed with the show, until the maines came in. first class had 9 females and they looked great. judge placed the ones with no flex in their pasterns for the most part on the bottom. there were at least 4 that walked in their tracks, had great thickness and spring in their ribs from the top down compared to the AOB classes and herefords. showmen were all great and very professional. lot of people congratulated the winner, which i think was a kadabra out of a daughter of the pannell 4072 cow or maybe even 4072 herself, don't know. results will have that. there were at least two jakes proud jazz females i got pics of. one said he wasn't used to them yet and had her way overfed, the other looked in better condition. both looked sound as well. a few shorties with trump as the MGS. lots of shorties, a few red angus. the size of classes were down from when i was in college and were more like at the county fair when i was a kid and in college. i missed the steer show which was a day earlier, wish i could have seen that. judge didn't comment too much on what he would like to change in the cattle. found out a college friend publishes pacific showcase, and caught up alittle bit on long lost college friends with her. have to agree with the comments on udders, they are to be seen.