A participate decides on their projects by December then you spend roughly the next seven months completing it and documenting it. If you decide on livestock you are spending that time bonding with an animal, then you have to sell them. I am the type that if I name them they are mine forever. I cried when I accidentally ran over a couple of our turkeys once (that is a whole other story).
April 09 we had a calf born that we thought would make a great 4-H project. He was stocky and stood perfectly only thing was we have no kids at home. 4-H is for 10 yr olds thru 18 or 4th thru 12th grade. A high school friend of Tim's has kids that are in 4-H and he mentioned to them about this little guy. (I hadn't named it yet). Scott brought his kids over Blake and Emily. Blake picked this guy and another little shaggy calf and Emily picked one. Off they went to get weighed and become their 2010 4-H project. Tim was just giddy thinking he had raised something good enough to show at a fair.
A true 4-H project is that the kids pick their own livestock, usually within the county they will be showing in, do the work and record all information. Just like in sports there are parents who stick their two cents in and sometimes a whole lot more money than that into the project. It takes the true meaning out of what 4-H is for. Not Scott and Barb they insist the Blake, Emily and big sister Sara do the work themselves. They will help when needed but it is their projects.
July comes and it is time for the Dallas County fair. We have not seen the calves but hear that they will be shown. We go over early in the week to peak at them. Blake has taken three to the fair two of which were ours. He named them Drewby (he was the stocky one) and Shaggy. Emily takes one but it is not ours. Very impressive! They look fat and happy.
The showing is on a Saturday morning and Tim takes off with camera in hand to see how the kids do. Tim watches as the kids wash and groom their animals, helping each other and just having a good time. Show time is close and then the seriousness sets in on their faces.
I am not sure how Emily does but Tim does say she is the hardest working girl out there. She got in and helped others without blinking an eye. Blake however discovered that Shaggy was 40 lbs. to light to show in his class but was unable to show him. Now Drewby, Tim will be blowing up pictures of this guy and hanging in his barn. Drewby placed 2nd in his class! The down side is he was then sold, but then there is a Carcus Class and Drewby got 6th so that was additional money for Blake. But how hard would that be to lead your calf to the truck and come back with an empty halter? Yea you get a check but that was a pet, he had a name. This is why I couldn't complete a livestock project. It does bother the kids for awhile then they are deciding on the next years project and what they could do differently.
We are proud of Blake, Emily and all 4-H'ers who take part in 4-H and follow thru on a project. We look forward to watching their progress next year and little sister Faith will be following in their footsteps in the near future. The lessons these kids learn will be invaluable in life. Scott and Barb are proud that their kids do it the correct way thru hard work.
Tim has been asked by some of the local kids if they can look at our calves for their 2011 project. He is ecstatic about that! It is the little things in farming that make it all worthwhile!
Blake giving Drewby a bath!
Blake and Drewby in the Showring
Blake and his State Fair calf Haus. Couldn't resist this picture, it says it all!
I've always been curious about how 4H kids can bear to sell their animals after the fair. Also, I can't believe how much those animals sell for! (And it's sad that you ran over the turkeys, but that would make a good blog post!)
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