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A Week at the Fair: Tuesday

Today S. showed her feeder calf. This is the first year she's shown a calf, and she really knew NOTHING about showing calves (other than what she learned from reading a hand-out that goes over how to show each animal). So this morning, during a lull, she asked a more experienced girl to give her some tips. Here they are, working with the other girl's calf. This is what I love about 4H. My daughter is fairly shy--not wanting to speak to other people any more than she has to. Yet she forced herself to approach this other girl and ask for a lesson. And the other girl was so kind to spend time with her.









Here's a photo of S. showing her calf in the ring.






And here she is, all happy and relieved when it was over. She took 3rd in her class for showmanship. And the calf won 1st place in the light weight class! Whodathunkit?!





We are now done with all the showing. Whew! Tomorrow evening is another big deal, when buyers come and bid on all the animals. It's a bittersweet ending to a long project. The kids have the satisfaction of a job well done. Yet these animals have become dear to them over the months they've worked together.

Why do we subject our kids to this? In part because we want them to make the connection between what's on their plate and these awesome, living, breathing animals. It's a hard lesson, but one that makes them appreciate their food and their animals more. Perhaps I'm too tired to elaborate tonight.
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Comments

  1. PamJuly 25, 2007 at 8:49 PM

    Kudos to your daughter Lona! I love how you decribed 4H and what it does for your children. Hope tonight wasn't too hard on them as they bid farewell to their beloved animals.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 10, 2007 at 12:58 PM

    Im glad your daughter did well. It sounds like you all had fun at the fair. I was happy to help your daughter learn a little more about showing and it looks like she did well im happy for her.

    ReplyDelete

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