Jeff Davis Parish Fair - 2018

The first week of October didn't bring any cooler weather, unfortunately, but it did bring the Parish Fair that is held each year in our town at the Fairgrounds.  Rides were set up, exhibits put together, animals brought to the barn and the smell of barbecue burgers and funnel cakes wafted over the muggy air.  Benjamin's FFA group sold 'Blooming Onions' at their booth for $8 a pop!

We brought our Jersey cow, Clarabelle, to the fair.  She's not in milk right now, but she is the best showmanship cow as she is gentle, laid back and has a feminine personality.  She bellows quite loud, but I guess that is a redundant explanation with the last trait in the previous sentence.  I kid, I kid.  Once the animal is cleaned up, there is some downtime to relax and visit with each other as well as other exhibitor families.

As show time nears, finishing touches are put on ol' Clarabelle.  Here, Tricia is applying some black shoe polish to her hooves.

It makes Clarabelle's hooves shine like a new penny!

Out in the show ring for showmanship, Benjamin (on the left) was showing against other breeds.  That is a Holstein in the center and a Brown Swiss on the end. 

The judge gave good tips on what went right... and on how to improve on things that didn't go so well.

In the end, Benjamin won Grand Champion Senior Showmanship with Clarabelle.  We took a picture of him and Clarabelle in front of the backdrop.  He didn't win a rosette ribbon or a belt buckle, but won cold, hard cash. 

Some friends in our Dairy Club took a photo of all of us.  We were very proud of Benjamin.  It takes a lot of patience and attention to detail to win Showmanship

Benjamin's 4-H Dairy Club worked on a booth in the exhibit hall to promote milk.  It was a circus theme this year and I think it turned out well.

When we loaded up Clarabelle into the trailer, we noticed that someone had left us a 'gift' in the back of the truck.  A goldfish.  I can remember when I was a boy, they had a game at the Parish Fair in which you attempted to throw a ping pong ball into a fish bowl.  If you were successful, you won the goldfish in the bowl.  I'm sure this was the same sort of game.  Benjamin and I decided to take the fish home and put him in the cows' water trough. 

The poor goldfish made it exactly ONE DAY.

The poor old goldfish was floating on the top of the water by Sunday at noon.  All good things coe to an end, I suppose.  The 2018 Jefferson Davis Parish Fair will be the last time Benjamin will exhibit and animal at the Fair as he'll be graduating from High School.  Tricia and I talked about maybe entering some of our okra or other garden produce as a fair exhibit next year.  Maybe the Sonnier's can still win a ribbon or two.  We'll have to wait until next year to see!

2018 Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo

The calendar flipped over to February and once again, that time of year for the livestock shows.  After showing in the Parish show, we brought Benjamin to the Southwest District Livestock Show & Rodeo in Lake Charles.  We brought Clarabelle and her little bull calf, Astro, so we wouldn't have to milk Clarabelle while at the show.  The weather proved to be as it usually is for the shows - cold, wet, and grey.

On Thursday, we got Clarabelle and Astro settled into the barn with the other Jefferson Davis Parish exhibitors and families and then got her all washed up, fed, and watered.  The day wasn't over, though.  Thursday night is Exhibitor Night in which all the kids showing livestock get free tickets to the rodeo.  We always like to go.  It is Americana at its finest - an opening prayer, Old Glory being ridden into the arena by a pretty cowgirl on a horse.  Funny thing, I didn't notice a single person kneeling during the Anthem.

We like all the events, but one that stands out to me is the Calf Scramble.  This is where they turn a bunch of 4-H exhibitors loose on an arena containing 20 wild calves.  The object of the event is that the kids are to catch a calf, put a halter on it, and push, pull or drag it into a square roped off in the center of the arena.  Actually, many of the kids are the ones being dragged by the calves!  The first three exhibitors to do so win $1,000 that they are to use to purchase an animal to show next year.  Here is a photo of the first exhibitor that got an animal into the square.  Good for him!
 

The final event of the night is always bull riding.  I say it every year, "These guys are crazy."  For the life of me, I can't see what would entice someone to get on the back of a bull weighing between 1,200 - 2,000 pounds and try to ride him for 8 seconds. 

While a few ride the bulls, many get thrown into the air and into the dirt.  It is then that the equally crazy clowns save their lives by placing themselves between the fallen cowboy and the angry bull.



Benjamin had the opportunity of walking out on the arena floor during the middle of the rodeo and be recognized for his achievements showing Clarabelle.  Tricia and I were very proud!

Back when I was showing, they had what they called a "Parade of Champions" in which exhibitors got to walk out all the champion and reserve champion livestock.  I think they changed this somewhere along the line so that it is only the kids (and not the animals with them) that walk out to be recognized - probably that it made the rodeo last too long.

Before the rodeo, many of the people that attend walk across to where the animals are located with their kids and grandkids and view the animals.  We let the kids pet the livestock and talk to them about the projects.  Many adults rekindle old memories of milking cows, raising pigs, showing sheep or beef cattle and re-connect with their past.  The livestock show, while being a LOT of work, is a LOT of fun, too!

Introducing The New Jeff Davis Parish Dairy Club Livestock Show T-Shirts

Each year our Dairy Club produces t-shirts for all of our livestock exhibitors to wear during the livestock shows.  A custom made t-shirt looks nice and uniform.  It sets our youth apart and it makes them easy to spot in a barn full of young 4-H'ers and FFA'ers.  This year due to the color primarily, but also the message, our youth will really stand out at the parish, district, and state shows.

What do you think?

I like puns and plays on words and this one is pretty good.

It may be a tall order to get Benjamin to wear a PINK shirt after the livestock shows are over, but I think Tricia will gladly appropriate the pink shirt!

Clarabelle's Last Time to Show as a Heifer

On Friday morning Benjamin brought Clarabelle, our two year old Jersey heifer, to the Parish Fair Barn.  She was going to be showing in the Jefferson Davis Parish Fair on Friday and then again on Saturday Morning as part of an FFA Fall Classic Livestock Show.  Clarabelle is showing as a heifer, but she will be calving at the end of October.  After that, she'll show as a Dairy Cow.  She is getting pretty wide in girth and she is just barely starting to bag up.

Out of all of our show cows over the years, Clarabelle has the gentlest, most easy-going temperament of all.  She stood perfectly still while Benjamin clipped her, and she never gets in a rush when walking in the show ring.  Now, sometimes that changes once they calve and they are nervous looking for their calf, but for now, she is a really good show cow. 

Saturday morning Benjamin got to the barn early to feed and water Clarabelle and get her cleaned up.  He had washed her the day before, so it should have just been a touch-up spot cleaning, but ol' girl laid down in her poop overnight and Benjamin really had to give her a good scrubbing.  The fair was still going on right outside the show barn and the barn filled up with the smoke and aroma of the "fair food" being cooked by the FFA, Lion's Club, and all the other booths selling food.  That's why the photos below are a little hazy.

The judge was from Alexandria and she did a real good job, explaining what she was looking for from both the exhibitor and the animal.  She asked the exhibitors different questions about their project.  She asked Benjamin, "How much does a gallon of milk weigh?"  Answer: About 8 1/2 pounds.  She also asked, "What is the milk of Jersey cows known for?" Answer: Jerseys have a high amount of butterfat compared to other breeds.  Whereas a Holstein is known for volume, a Jersey is known for the richness (the cream).

There are two different shows that go on.  The first judges the animal and how well the animal looks.  the second is showmanship which judges how well the exhibitor shows the animal.  The judge makes the exhibitors walk around with their animals, judging how they handle the animal and set it up. 

It is crucial to keep your eyes on the judge.

The way you show a heifer as opposed to a cow (once they have a calf, they are no longer heifers, but are cows) is different.  With a heifer, the back leg closest to the judge must be positioned back like shown in the photo below.  Conversely, when showing a cow, the back leg of the cow closest to the judge should be positioned forward, so that the judge can see the udder and teat placement.

Benjamin won Reserve Champion Jersey and in Showmanship, he was the Champion Showman.  We are proud of Benjamin and Clarabelle.  They did a great job.

Benjamin won some nice looking ribbons to hang in his room.

The next time he shows Clarabelle, it will be in the Spring Livestock Shows in January.  Lots of things will have changed by then.  It will be cold, instead of hot.  Clarabelle will have a calf by her side with an udder full of milk, and she'll be shown as a cow instead of a heifer.

Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo - 2017

Now that the Jefferson Davis Parish Livestock Show is over, it's that time of year for the Southwest District (Louisiana) Livestock Show and Rodeo held in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  The animals had to be in the barn by noon on Friday, but on Thursday night is one of the first nights of the rodeo where all exhibitors get a free ticket.  We never miss it.  Tricia, Benjamin and I attended.

We always enjoy the rodeo, I guess mainly for the fact that it is good, wholesome, family entertainment.  It begins with a prayer and is followed by the Star Spangled Banner.  There is a moving tribute to our veterans and those who sacrifice in order to preserve our freedom.

The emcee on horseback gets everyone involved as he rides around the arena, welcoming folks to the greatest show on dirt.  Then bareback gets underway as cowboys attempt to ride the bucking horse for 8 seconds.  What a rough ride!

Then team roping where one cowboy attempts to rope the calf's head and the other tries to get the rope around the calf's back legs.  That must take lots of practice.  If they got it or not, the crowd sent them out with a good handclap.

Then there is a fun event where 4-Hers take part in the Calf Scramble.  The officials take a rope and make a big square in the arena.  Calves are set free and a number of 4-Hers with halters run after the calves and attempt to put the halter around their necks.

The first three youth to pull the calves they caught into the square win $1,000 to go toward the purchase of an animal that they will show in next year's livestock show. The kids give it their all and it is quite entertaining to see them catch an animal and pull it into the square or be pulled around the arena by the calf.

Then there's the calf-roping event where a cowboy must rope a calf, jump down off his horse, run to the calf, throw it down and tie up three of its legs.  The one who does this in the least amount of time wins.

Of course there is barrel racing, but the most fun is the buddy barrel event where one barrel is set up at the end of the arena and a cowboy on a horse comes racing as fast as possible toward the barrel.  Another cowboy or cowgirl is mounted on top of the barrel and as soon as the horse turns, the one atop the barrel jumps onto the horse as they race back for the lowest time.  Sometimes the jumper falls off the horse - sometimes both fall off the horse.

Finally comes the last event - Bull Riding.  Tricia watched and commented that she felt sorry for all the cowboy's mommas that had to worry about their boys riding a crazy bucking animal.  Sometimes the cowboys were able to ride for a full 8 seconds...

Sometimes, however, they ended up in a crumpled pile on the arena floor as the huge bull angrily chased the bull fighters.

As soon as the swinging gate opens, it's on.  The bull is slinging spit, dust is flying and the rider is hanging on with everything he's got.  The bull is trying with everything he's got to get the cowboy off his back.  This is not for the faint of heart. Cowboys are pretty brave, though, and they are chasing a monetary pay-off for trying to ride this wild beast.

Not only would I not want to try to ride them, but I wouldn't want to be a bull fighter.  Look below as this bull fighter is chased by the bull to the fence.

Nope, nope, nope.  Ain't no way I'd do that.  It was thrilling watching someone else do it, though. Tomorrow the animals have to be in the barn by noon, followed by the show on Saturday morning. We'll show you some of the sights of the days in tomorrow's post.

A Pretty Cool Trophy

A couple of weeks ago I posted about Benjamin giving Clarabelle a haircut. Clarabelle is our Jersey Heifer.  She is really tame and has a very gentle disposition. He clipped her in preparation for the Jefferson Davis Parish Livestock Show in Jennings.  He showed her last week and the old boy did really well with her.  In fact, the judge selected Clarabelle as the best Jersey heifer at the show.  Then to top it off, Benjamin won Champion Senior Dairy Showman!  He was invited to an Awards Banquet where the livestock exhibitors were honored and received their awards.  We ate a complimentary meal of chicken and sausage jambalaya and then State Representative Johnny Guinn shook hands with Benjamin and presented him with his award.

Then he posed with the other Dairy Exhibitors present at the Awards Banquet.  The Dairy Club is a close-knit group of young people that work hard and enjoy themselves during the livestock shows.

I wanted to post a close-up of Benjamin's award - a cool belt buckle!  Benjamin is very excited.  It is the first belt buckle that he's won and he was really hoping he would win one.

I was telling him that any trophy that I ever won is collecting dust.  His trophy is one that he'll get to wear for years to come.  Not to mention the fact that it is silver and looks awesome.  We're proud of Benjamin and he's proud of himself.

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.

2016 Southwest District Livestock Show

This past weekend it was time for the Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  It is held at the Burton Complex and is an opportunity for young people in 4-H and FFA to show their livestock.  We brought the animals to the barn Friday morning at 8 am.  There were Dairy cows, beef cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and rabbits in the arenas.  We quickly found our group and set up under our banner - Jeff Davis Parish Dairy Exhibit.

Our Parish Dairy Exhibit

We brought Clarabelle, the seven month old Jersey heifer and Amy, who gave birth to Chuck, our little Jersey bull.  We brought Chuck, too.  There is not a competition to show Jersey bulls.  We brought him so that Amy wouldn't be mooing all day and night looking for her calf and for a secondary purpose that we'll tell you about in a minute.  Now, because you want your dairy cow's bag to be in "full bloom," you don't milk them out for about a day in advance of the show.  They will be so full of milk that milk will be dripping from their teats.  It is probably quite uncomfortable for the cow as she wants to be milked.  Chuck wants the milk, too.  For that purpose we put down fresh wood shavings and placed Clarabelle between Chuck and Amy so that Chuck wouldn't steal Amy's milk before the show.

From left to right: Chuck, Clarabelle, and Amy

Benjamin filled the hay socks with hay and the cows ate hay and got acclimated to their new surroundings.  Cows mooing and pigs squealing in the background isn't the most peaceful sound, but the cows are able to tune that all out and sit down and nap for a bit.  Then it is time to take the animals to the washing stalls and gave the cows a good bath, scrubbing them up so that they are squeaky clean, even cleaning the ear wax out of their ears.

Taking a rest after bath time

But it is not all hard work.  The exhibitors, enjoying an excused absence from school, enjoy themselves in any number of creative ways, like pushing a cart full of cow poop and hay.  There's plenty of good, clean fun that happens at a livestock show.  You have to keep your area clean, so each time your animal poops, you have to pick up the manure with a pitch fork and fill up the poop bin.  If you didn't, all your washing would be for naught as your animal would lay in their cow patty. Cows aren't real big on cleanliness.

Pushing the poop wagon

A few members of the Jefferson Davis Dairy Show Team - all smiles

Sittin' on the fence

Saturday morning the show started promptly at 8 am with Showmanship first.  For showmanship, the competition is really not about the animal - it is about the showman.  It is about how well the exhibitor shows the animal.  Points are awarded for your ability to set up your animal quickly, your focus and attention on the judge, your proficiency in answering questions that the judge asks you about your animal, and generally how well you handle your animal - even if they are acting up.

In the show ring

Sometimes even mommas get involved, holding animals between shows and keeping a bucket full of rags to 'touch up' the cows prior to their turn in the ring.

Clarabelle & Tricia

Once Showmanship is over, then it is time for the regular show.  The cows are broken up into breed classifications that are separated by the age of the animal.  In the photo below, Benjamin is showing Clarabelle in the 7 month old Jersey heifer division.  He has her set up nicely, with her legs properly placed and her head held high.

Clarabelle set up for the judge 

Under the shining lights of the Burton Coliseum, Benjamin and Clarabelle really shined, winning a bunch of nice rosette ribbons.

Benjamin & Clarabelle

Here is a shot of Benjamin and I with Clarabelle.  She is showing off her Reserve Champion Jersey Heifer Louisiana bred ribbon.

Once Benjamin was finished showing, we walked Amy & Clarabelle back to the barn where Chuck was waiting.  That little dude was hungry and finally, since the show was over, he could drink Amy's milk.  Chuck drank and drank and drank until Amy was drained.

Emptying Amy

Chuck had a belly full of milk and he quickly sat down and began napping.  We laughed at him as he dozed off, his head sinking and sinking and sinking into the wood shavings.  

Amy, Benjamin, and Chuck

Since they want people to walk through the livestock exhibits prior to the rodeo, even though the show was over by noon, they wouldn't release us until about 8:20 pm.  We had an entire day to kill. Benjamin rested on and along with his animals to pass the time.  We also talked to parents and kids walking through the barn, explaining and showing them how to milk a cow.  Many folks aren't familiar with farm animals and they had the opportunity to pet the cows and learn about them. Believe it or not, some kids didn't know that milk comes from a cow.

We also visited with other exhibitors.  Our Jeff Davis show team is a close-knit group and we ate brisket sandwiches, rice & gravy and a bunch of snacks while we talked and laughed and enjoyed each others' company.

Catching a quick nap

We got home at about 10pm Saturday night.  It was a long day.  We got the cows unloaded from the trailer and back in the pasture.  They were glad to be home.  So were we!  Benjamin had a nice haul of ribbons of which he's proud of.  They'll decorate the wall of his room.

Benjamin's Ribbons

This weekend we'll take Clarabelle to Gonzales, Louisiana, where the State Livestock Show is held. Benjamin is looking forward to going to the State Show to show his calf and have fun with his friends.