2016 Jefferson Davis Parish Fair and Livestock Show

The first cool front of the year blew in, bringing lows in the low 60's and highs around 80 and it felt great.  It was perfect weather for the Parish Fair - a time that the 4-H Club and FFA rolls into high gear.  Benjamin and his Dairy Club worked to put together a booth at the fair to promote consumption of dairy products for health and its great taste.

I may be biased, but I think the "election," for us at least, is a landslide.

"Fair Day" is a fun day.  School is let out so everyone can attend the fair, the fair parade, and make their way to the livestock barn to get their animals groomed and ready for the show.  This year Benjamin chose to bring Clarabelle, his Jersey heifer, to the show.

Once Clarabelle was clipped and washed, there's some down-time - a good opportunity to just relax. It is also a great time to talk to fair-goers who bring their kids to see the animals.  You get to answer their questions, let their kids pet your animals and tell them about what it is like to have a milk cow. Even though we live in a rural area, there are many who are far-removed from their agricultural roots and are interested in showing their kids or grandkids a little bit about rural life.

Russ and Benjamin laid out some fresh wood shavings on the ground.  Cows have a bad habit of making a mess and then laying in it and this is not good, especially after you have them all cleaned up.  We like to take a little olive oil and shine up the leather show halter to make it look good.

Then it is time to bring the animals in the ring as the judge has the exhibitors parade the animals around as he checks them all out.  Clarabelle behaved herself quite well and Benjamin was proud of the way she showed.

He got a blue ribbon in Showmanship and a blue ribbon in his Jersey heifer class.

When the show was over they loaded Clarabelle up in the trailer and Russ pulled her back home in his truck.  There won't be another show until the Parish show in January 2017, but this was a good opportunity to get a little practice showing Clarabelle and also just have some fun at the fair.