Opening Day
The North Idaho State Fair kicked off today! I would know, as the day has been extra long for me. My over-achiever of a daughter wanted to be the first kid to the pig barn to prepare for showing this morning, so when her alarm went off at 3:45AM, both our days started!
Along with having projects in shooting sports, cooking, and doing our 4H club's scrapbook, my kiddos also show pigs. This means that they are doing fun things like shaving the ear hair off their pig's ears while most people are still sleeping the opening day of fair. 4H kids are out in the pre-dawn hours bathing their livestock, making sure their animals are fed, and keeping their pens squeaky clean.
Miles and miles of walking occur from the barn to camper village where all the 4H families stay on the edge of the fairgrounds. The sweet sickly purr of ancient generators powering even older campers lull one to sleep each evening after an exhaustive day of show class viewing in the heat. This morning I woke up to the smell that heralded the arrival of the fair, corn dogs and funnel cakes! 20 feet from my camper no less! Oh sweet food on a stick!
Today wasn't all fun and games, as it takes a lot of logistical work and competent human support to run such a fun-filled enterprise as a fair. While we were all waiting to watch one of our dear friend's daughter show her beef steer a lady behind us had a massive seizure and stopped breathing. In no time the paramedics and fair staff had the situation in hand, but talk about an unexpected happening. I'm still wondering if she is okay, she seized so hard she kicked me in the spine! Poor lady!
Tomorrow is showmanship day. While today focused on the overall quality of the kid's market animals, tomorrow's classes focus on the partnership between young human and beast. There is nothing better than watching a 70lb child masterfully handle a 1400 pound steer! I can't wait!
Limited equipment apologetic addendum: I'm having to compose and post these fair posts on my iPhone, so they are even sorrier than my usual fair, er fare. My sympathies.
3:45 am, y'all are on the edge of crazy - looking forward to those ribbons though!
20 feet from corn dogs and funnel cakes, they may be showing me by the end of the week if I were that close. 😄
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Lots of ribbons were won! The kids did great!
Naw, you'd be a regular customer, they'd love you! Lol! I have to admit I've woken up to worse smells, think I'm going to go get a bedtime funnel cake.😜
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Hah! Hello neighbor! Nice to see another local on Steemit! Seems you are about 30 miles east of us, on the other side of Mt. Spokane. I am trying to prep all my produce for the Spokane fair in a couple weeks myself. Looks like your kids have some good animals for show. I still have some years before my boys might be ready for 4H, but with the farm, the chances are high they will tend that direction. Good luck with the rest of the fair!
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Well hello there in return neighbor! 😊
We will be making a trip to the Spokane fair in a couple weeks too! It is so cool that you are entering produce, I've always wanted to, but seem to have a million other things to tend to this time of year. I know, excuses, excuses, right, lol!
With the farm and boys, I'll bet I'll be reading some 4H happenings posts on your blog in the distant future!
Thanks for the well wishes and good luck with your entries too!
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Great to see thanks a lot for sharing your experience it was great to read and nice pics too :)
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Awe, thank you!😊I just spent the last three hours volunteering in the 4H food booth, now there's an experience for ya! Lol!
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Nice work in getting your posts out while you are at the fair! I really like that picture of the kids showing their pigs in the ring. Nice looking pigs, for sure! Here's to lots of ribbons for your kids!
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You are too kind HH! You've been missed around here! It's really encouraging to read things like your comment as I'm more of a 4H zombie parent than a competent blogging adult at the moment😜
The kids and hogs did great! Lots of blue ribbons, I'm so proud of them! Now I'm going to grab a quick cat nap!
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corn dogs + funnel cakes = heaven!
oh and heartburn too lol.
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They have huckleberry ice cream to put out that fire😉
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I thought your post was just peachy...phone or no laptop. Got a good SLAP2 out of your "food on a stick" comment. Classic. Gotta admit, I do love funnel cakes, but stay away whenever possible. (I think that's the same as an elephants ear, isn't it? If not, I love those too ( :
Well, I'll keep this short, as you are busy busy busy. Have fun, and tell the GK juniours their pigs are cute. Darth Bacon...what a crackup. Have a nice night.
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Is it night time? I'm too tired to be sure😜
I'm also in a fair food coma, might not make it the week at this rate. Blast you deep fried sugary dough of gut wrenching doom!
Hope you are having a nice night too my friend, and as they are all saying here, may the fair be with you! Lol!
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Few things taste better when you eat them, and make you feel as lousy as dirt when complete, as elephant ears and other such greasy fair fare. Maybe washing it down with a Coca Cola...has the same effect on me as those doughballs of doom. Good luck there, and keep smiling. I know I am ( :
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Oh pumpkins! ^^ I'm afraid no pumpkins grew in my garden this year so I drew some.
Hope the lady is ok. Sending my good thoughts her way.
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Pumpkins are one of my favorite things to grow, I'm sorry about your lack of them, but I bet your drawing is gorgeous!!!
Never did hear anything about that poor woman, my thoughts are with her as well.
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I love the pigs' names! I hope they cooperate when it comes time to show them. I can't think about fair food without remembering my third pregnancy. It was fair season, and while I had lost all interest in cooking and/or smelling food at home, fair food did not bother me. So we spent a great deal of time eating at the county fair that week!
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Lol! That sounds like a lovely way to spend one's third trimester!
Darth Bacon and Leia were very cooperative, everyone did great!
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Nice post with good article and amazing photograpy...
Smart work my dear friend @generikat
upvoted...
Cheers~~~
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Thank you!
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this makes me want a pet pig
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Awe, one our family members has a pet pig and he even uses the litter box! Of course he's a mini pig, one of those 300 overs might not fit so well on the couch, lol!
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Look at those pumpkins! I'm not even sure any are ready around here! Haha that's awesome!
Please share all the things about the fair. I'm not considering this research for next year! ;) haha and living thru you! And maybe your kids a little!
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Lol! I will do my best to help you with your research!
Glad you enjoyed he first batch of fair reporting😊
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I'm loving it! Especially since I missed them this year! Thanks!!
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