Westmoreland Fair 4-H Animals And A Bit More

 Celebrating 100 Years of 4-H in Pennsylvania 

Ali - 4-H Red Ribbon Winner, 19-24 month Crossbred Breeding Meat Goat Doe

A lot of work goes into the fair and much of it is volunteer.

Farmers take time from their fields and barns to make sure the kids get an opportunity to have a well run nine days.

Parents camp out with their kids after months of training and practice.

Or they drive back and forth twice a day making sure the animals - and kids - get fed, cleaned, and medicated if needed.

In this video, Adeline is drinking her electrolites from the bottle to wash down her Pepto.

 As you can see, Adeline is a well trained goat! Or maybe she just likes all the attention.

The kids become showmen and women for all the people coming to see their animals,...

Julia with Adeline - 4-H Red Ribbon Winner, 12-18 month Crossbred Breeding Meat Goat Doe

...as well as for when they compete. 

 Angus being "set up" by Hattie in preparation for showmanship.

 Julia and Adeline (third from right) in competition.

 Philip(third from right) did well with one of Zola's twins during the Showmanship,

and Market Goat sale.

Even the Fair Queen Rachel Sheffler, participates in the Market Goat sale - crown, sash and all.

(Rachel won the On the Pond Farm sponsored Breeding Meat Goat Supreme Champion Trophy)

 You've possibly read about animal identification.

See the tattoo in the ear?

 These hens are dyed with vet approved coloring (according to the sign).

Clyde is a naturally colorful guy.

I found this information a bit CSI-ish.

Is this Hydrographic(Camo Dipped)?

 Lots more food than this - trust me! Got to keep the audience fed.

The sun setting over the fair.

Westmoreland Fair Without Animals

Okay! We start with a chicken quilt. So animals are inspiration for crafts.

Julia's Blue Ribbon Pina Colada Bread

But there is so much to the fair aside from the animals, unless, of course, you figure where these ingredients came from.

  The 4-H Court of Honor.

Preserved goods,...

And the raw materials below.

 Best of Show Handcraft.

 Recycled crafts

Soybeans 

 Wool being spun and woven.

 Is this a swan or a serpent?

Bear Paw Quilt

 

This really was supposed to be about everything but animals, since there is so much to see at the fair, but it seems that the pictures I chose led me otherwise.

Well a few more animals to come as I catch up on the Westmoreland Fair next time.

 

Westmoreland Fair 2012(More to follow)

Fun and Work

If there was a trophy for goats with personality, I think we all agree at our farm, that Adeline would be a winner. She is always first at the stall door demanding to get out and get the day started. No lingering in the background for her.

Julia has her entered in the Westmoreland Fair again this year, and we hope they can do well again. 

Trixie had been an entry all along, since the day she was born, and was a very big girl until she had a bout of pneumonia about two months ago. We almost lost her, and to save her, started bottle feeding her again. Lucky for us, we have 4-H friends who traded us goat milk so that we could nurse her to health. Of course, now we will have to wean her again, but it was worth the effort. She is not as robust as she was, but passed her fitness vet check and will show at the fair.

Each morning, when she can, Julia helps get the goats out, fed and watered, and helps with any special tasks, like shots, where another pair of hands is helpful.

To get the three goats she is taking ready, she has tried washing off those dirty knees and grooms them at night. With her mother and brother helping she gave all three a major bath yesterday while we had a nice warm day to dry them up. No need to have them catch a cold now.

 There's a lot of fun in all this work.

Today I even LET Julia dump the manure!

Its a bit of a walk up the hill, but I remind her of what a good work out she's getting to keep her in shape for running (yes - she runs races with her dad).

 Jock helps of course!

 Can you see? She's still smiling!

So tomorrow the animals go to the Westmoreland Fair, and a busy nine days begins.

Good Luck Julia, Adeline, Ali and Trixie!