2017 District Livestock Show - Lake Charles

The morning following the Rodeo that we posted about HERE we woke up and loaded Clarabelle into the trailer and took off for Lake Charles.  It is about 41 miles to the Burton Coliseum from where we live.  Check in times for the animals was 8 a.m. until noon.  We arrived and showed the health papers and got settled on the Jeff Davis Dairy Exhibit aisle.  We met up with friends and visited.

Then it was time to get Clarabelle cleaned up for the show tomorrow.  Fortunately it wasn't as cold as in previous years, but it wasn't warm either.  As Benjamin sprayed her down with water at the wash rack, steam rose from her back.  She was shaking.

He soaped her down and then sprayed more water on her.  She didn't like it much and jumped around.

A little soap, a little scrubbing with a brush and she was clean as a whistle.

It was a beautiful day outside the barn and Benjamin found some clover for Clarabelle to munch on. Then it was time to give her fresh water and hay for the night and we headed back for home.  The show starts at 8 a.m. Saturday morning.

Benjamin showed his heifer, Clarabelle in the Burton Coliseum and the judge liked her.  Benjamin got a nice rosette ribbon.

He showed in his Jersey class and then in Showmanship.

It was a full morning of showing livestock.

They didn't release us until after the rodeo began at 8 p.m. that night, so it made for a long day.  But we visited with each other and ate BBQ burgers and then made the long drive home once we were released.

This weekend is the State Livestock Show in Gonzales, Louisiana at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center and Benjamin will be bringing Clarabelle.  I remember livestock shows when I was a boy and have many good memories of time with friends and my animals.  I'm glad that Benjamin is able to do the same and make some lasting memories.