acqui Gray, 16, DeForest, gets her Holstein ready for judging at last year's Dane County Fair.
Posted on 07/12/2008 3:08:21 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
It's County Fair season in Wisconsin -- when you can ride a Ferris wheel, win a giant stuffed gorilla at a ring toss, watch a "spine-tingling, death-defying" daredevil show, share a funnel cake with your family and watch sparkling clean hogs snore in a pen, all in one afternoon.
It's the kind of fun that is hard to come by at any other time of the year.
But it's something else, too.
At the heart of most fairs are boys and girls who spend months, sometimes even years, raising cows, pigs, sheep, guinea pigs, birds and a variety of other animals, or who design clothing, complete science exhibits or do any of dozens of other projects -- all put on display to be judged.
The fair is their time to shine.
And it's our time to celebrate their efforts.
At the Dane County Fair -- Wednesday through Sunday, with a preview Tuesday evening -- 1,055 young people are scheduled to exhibit projects. Virtually all are members of 4-H clubs or FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America).
For them, the fair is what a spelling bee or athletic championship might be to others -- the culmination of lots of hard work.
The livestock and pet exhibitors highlight the essence of the fair. These young people spend months feeding, training and otherwise caring for their animals. They keep careful records on expenses. They cope with love and grief as their animals present them with happy surprises and occasional tragedies.
Before the fair, there is scrubbing, grooming, hauling and more caring.
At the fair there is fun with friends, pride in accomplishment and excitement in anticipation of judges' results.
To understand the value of the experience, consider the code exhibitors are required to follow: "I realize that I am responsible for the proper care and treatment of my animals, the production of wholesome food and the development of sound moral character in myself and others."
And from the same code: "I wish for my animal project to be an example of how to accept what life has to offer -- good and bad -- and how to live with the outcome."
So when you attend your local fair, keep in mind the young exhibitors and the lessons they are learning.
You might just learn something too. :)
My Grandma Edith won many a blue ribbon for both her flowers (Gladiolas) and her oil paintings, back in the day. (She fancied herself as a modern-day "Grandma Moses" with we girls as her subjects for the most part.)
I have a regular pre-teen customer at my Garden Center and earlier this year I helped her pick out succulent plants (similar to cactus) for a Dish Garden she is entering. Last year she raised Dinner-Plate Dahlias (the really big ones) from the bulbs I sold her. She brought in her Red Ribbon (Second Place) to show me; she was so proud! :)
Midwest Ping!
acqui Gray, 16, DeForest, gets her Holstein ready for judging at last year's Dane County Fair.
(Just random shots from Fairs gone by...)
Wonderful post.
Thx.
(Just random shots from Fairs gone by...)
Thanks for the great stories from the home state Diana...
Living in sheboygan.. got a lot of expousure to 4-H and FFA... and my high school girlfriend did cattle and sheep every year for the Manty county fair... I know what it takes for these kids to achieve what they do and the dedication and effort that is put into their entries...
you put a smile on my face today... Thanks...
Getting ready to show some Angus heifers at our
county fair.(Lebanon,Tn) Great fair BTW
Most people would be suprised at how much a Holstein
cow costs.
Best of Luck!
A woman that works for me also has a Dairy farm. She’s very proud of the fact that she hasn’t BOUGHT a milk cow since 1962; has bred and raised all of her own since then.
That’s quite an accomplishment! :)
Her farm wins all sorts of awards for efficiency and what-not from many Ag organizations in our state. She knows what she’s doing.
If you’d like to be on or off this Upper Midwest/outdoors/rural list please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.
You broke the machine...
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of showing my Shorthorn heifer. She hated me and would step on my feet every chance she got LOL but she won Grand Champion repeatably so I put up with her.
IMO these kids are the future of our country. They are the conservatives of tomorrow. It's important we support them as much as possible.
Probably so.
They’re just random stock photos of county fairs. I’m getting a digital camera for my birthday, so there will be no stopping me then! :)
Those were awesome! :)
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