We were not the only ones at the fair with underweight pigs or with ones straddling the 230 pound line.  Even very experienced pig farmers were struggling to keep their pigs up to market weight.  The drought might have a lot to do with it.  The extreme heat also plays a role. 

As a family, we were forced to make a decision.  Do we take the pigs up to the fairgrounds and hope that they will gain the necessary weight in the few days before the show or do we give up and keep them home?  We decided that we are not quitters.  The pigs are part of our children’s education and 4-H project.  Kyla and Jake needed to finish what they started. 

Most people at the fair were full of advice.  “Have you tried cake mix?” they would ask.  “What about Kool-Aid?”  “My pigs love peanut butter cookies.”  Throughout the last two months, we had honestly tried everything to get our pigs to eat their food.  A mister, a fan, exercise, etc. were other methods we employed. 

On the other hand, some people need to step back and gain some perspective.  They were downright rude about our pigs.  First of all, Lane and I help our children with their projects, but we do not do their projects for them.  We help them find the animals.  They pay for them.  We go to the feed store to purchase the feed.  If they have a question or need help, I call around to secure experts willing to help them.  But in the end regardless of the outcome, our children feel pride in their projects because they have a sense of ownership.  They did the work, and they are learning that hardwork usually pays off. 

Our point of view is that our children needed to follow their swine project to completion, which meant that they needed to take their pigs to the fair.  They also needed to gain some experience in the show ring, which could only happen if they showed their animals.  We knew that their pigs would be disqualified because of their weight as they left the show ring.  We expected the orange stripe associated with a DQ to be painted down the pigs’ backs.

All of this occurred just like we expected.  Beyond our expectations, Kyla was called back for showmanship, which we felt was quite an honor.   What we did not expect were all the comments around us.  “You should have left those (expletive) pigs home.”  “Why would anyone bring those pigs here?”  Well, you get the idea. 

Jake’s pig though smaller than the others in the show ring did not place last.  The way our fair works is that the last place animal in each class has to go home.  They cannot be sold in either the Premium Sale or the Freezer Sale.  Only 35% of the top swine make it to the Premium Sale. 

By our participation in the swine show, another child was going to get to sale his/her pig at the Premium Sale because we made the class size larger.  Unfortunately not everyone saw it this way.  I even heard people complain that received the dreaded last place that a DQed hog knocked his/her pig out.  If you really think about it, a last place pig is going to be last place regardless.  It would not matter what place any other pig received. 

I told Jake and Kyla to hold their head high.  No matter what place they got or what they heard people say, they were doing right by finishing their project.  They worked hard and, in my opinion, deserved a chance to show their pig.  They smiled as they walked their orange-striped DQed pigs back to the pens. 

The fair makes you remove the last placed and/or DQed animals from the fairgrounds immediately.  It is almost like a “walk of shame.”  I was just glad to see that my children were not phased by it.  Jake has decided that pigs are not his thing, which is fine with me.  Kyla is already talking about how much better she is going to do next year in her swine project.  You cannot always protect your children, but you can stand proud as you watch them thrive unscathed in these hostile conditions. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this matter.  Maybe our family is just way off base.  Maybe we need to alter our perspective.  I really don’t think so, but I am open to your response.

The vet removed the cast and took another x-ray.  One bone in the ankle has healed.  The other bone has healed 20%.  He explained to Kyla that healing bones sometimes need pressure to speed up the healing process.  Therefore, he made the splint less supportive than the last one.  The vet advised Kyla to continue keeping the splint dry and in ten days to remove it. 

Then she can begin working with Coco to prepare for the show in early June.  Kyla is looking forward to finally trying to lead her around and teaching her to set up for the judge.  Honestly, she is a little disappointed.  Two weeks ago, the vet gave her hope that he could remove the cast this morning.  She is now marking down ten days on her calendar so that she can remove the splint herself.

Kyla is also irritated with her brother, Jake.  He tagged along to the veterinarian’s appointment too.  The vet asked, “What color tape do you want the splint wrapped with?”  Jake blurted out, “Blue!”  Immediately the vet began taping the leg while she fumed.  

I asked her what color she would have chosen.  Her response, “Purple or something that suits Coco.”  Well, Jake was wrong.  It was not his place to speak up, but I personally think that the blue tape suits Coco just right.  We are all looking forward to the day when she has no splint, no tape regardless of the color, and no injuries.

The DeHaven family was represented well by both Kyla and Jake.  They are both Junior 4-H members.  They completed record books and both advanced to the District 9 competition.  Kyla competed in the Goat project and Jake in the Horse project.

Earlier this summer they were both scheduled for interviews.  They were nervous, but politely answered the questions.  I don’t know this for a fact since I was not allowed to be part of the process.  However, they both relayed their experience to me after the fact.

At the Award Social, Kyla won the Bronze Star.  From what was said at the social, the Bronze Star is the highest honor a Junior can receive.  Therefore, we are really excited for Kyla.

Jake received Rookie of the Year, which is an honor for 1st year 4-Hers.  We are really excited for him, too.  It truly is an honor.

Awards are not the reason we chose to do 4-H.  We complete projects to learn skills whether it is Food & Nutrition, Clothing & Textiles, Photography, or animal-related projects.  The skills acquired are definitely our incentive.  However the recognition is greatly appreciated.  It is the icing on the cake.

4-H is such a great organization.  Almost anything for which your child has a passion is a fit.  It is not just about animals.  Most homesteaders do not raise show animals.  We raise food.  There is a big difference between the two.

In addition, my young children had to be interviewed.  This was Kyla’s second interview and Jake’s first time.  It is much better to gain experience in this essential life skill at a young age than waiting until it is completely necessary for a job.

I am proud to be a 4-H mom.  As a home-schooling family, 4-H provides us time with other families at least once a month.  It is nice to be with like-minded families and youth.

Finding a local 4-H club should not be difficult.  We have many different clubs in our county and it is a nationwide organization.  If you are interested in joining, ask around your community.  I have found that the County Extension Agents are extremely helpful finding a club, starting a project, etc. throughout the year.  Don’t be afraid to ask them questions.  For more information on 4-H or to find a local club, click here.

We have been a 4-H family for years.  It is a great organization.  It is a good fit with our homesteading and home-schooling family.  We are also very proud of Kyla and Jake’s accomplishments.  They are proud of their awards, too.  It was a good night for the DeHaven household.

Jake showing Sugar, his heifer.

Our family had a great time at the 2010 Grimes County Fair.  It was the first time that our children completed and showed animal projects for the fair.  In addition to caring for the animals we raise here at home, the travel and stay at the fairgrounds consumed our week.  We were extremely busy.

Jake showed a heifer.  He worked so hard with her especially the weeks leading up to the show.  She was in great condition.  I think Jake is a natural showman.  He did so well with his heifer in the show ring and even did well competing for showmanship.  His heifer won 1st place in her class.

Kyla learned so much about showing goats.  She learned how to drench her goat and set him up.  She also did a great job in the show ring.  Her goat did not do as well as we would have liked.  He got 10th place.  More importantly for us, he made the freezer sale.  So she was able to make some money by selling him.  We had so much help getting the goat to the show ring and we want to thank everyone who helped us.

Kyla and Marley the goat in the show ring.

Both Kyla and Jake won various ribbons in the Creative Arts competition.  They entered art work, photography, jewelry, and food.  Jake had made me a set of jewelry for Mother’s Day.  It got 1st place in the jewelry division and was sold during the Premium Sale.  He owes me another identical set.

Kyla came home from the fair $565.00 richer.  Jake made almost $100.00 from prize money and sales.  They are planning to invest their money into next year’s projects in the hopes of making more money.  It is for the future education, whatever that might be.

I love how the county comes out to support the youth in the community.  Prices were a little down from past years because of the economy, but the hard work from the 4-H and FFA projects was paying off.

People also supported the rodeos hosted at the fairgrounds.  On Saturday and Sunday nights, people filled the stands and stood around the arena watching both the local cowboys and those who traveled to participate in the events.

The Posse performs a drill pattern in honor of POWs.

My oldest three children are members of the Grimes County Sheriff’s Jr. Mounted Posse.  They were asked to perform in the opening ceremonies before each rodeo.  They did a great job!  It was such a patriotic routine in honor of the POWs.  It made you so proud to be an American.  They performed to Toby Keith’s, “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.”

The Bull Buck-Out hosted at the fairgrounds on the last Saturday of the fair signals the end of all the activities.  Before the semi-professional and professional cowboys attempt to ride bulls for a minimum of eight seconds, the youngsters are given a chance to compete in several rodeo events.

Isaac before he competes in the Stick Horse event.

Isaac competed in the Stick Horse event.  Small cowboys and cowgirls ride their stick horses in the arena competing for a belt buckle.  Isaac did a great job and came home with a trophy.  He was fun to watch.

Then they hold the Mutton Bustin’, which is when children ride sheep for as long as they can.  This was the first year that riders were required to wear helmets.  My dad used to say, “Well we raise them tough in Grimes County,” because no one wore any safety protection.  Jake is our veteran mutton buster, but he is too old now.

For the older cowboys in the area, children 12-18 can choose to ride steers.  I get really anxious in the Steer Riding events and I don’t have anyone competing.  I was really impressed with this year’s riders.  Almost everyone rode the full 6 seconds required.  There was stiff competition for the belt buckle.

It was a great, but extremely busy week.  We were so happy when the last event took place and life could return to normal.  Now my kids are looking forward to next year.  They are already talking about which animals they are going to raise and projects they want to do.

Jake's jewelry

Both Jake and Kyla are showing animals for their first time this year.  It has been a learning and growing experience for all involved, including my husband and I.  We are so grateful for the help and advice we received from many different people.

Jake is showing a Beefmaster heifer from Cross Creek Cattle Company.  She is  fifteen months old.  Jake named her Sugar.  Heifer projects are difficult and time-consuming.  They are also much larger animals than our other options like rabbits and goats.  He has made it through and his hard work has paid off.  Regardless of how he places at the show this Saturday, Sugar is beautiful, gentle, and halter broken.  Any rancher would be proud to have her out in his pasture.

Kyla is showing a market goat named Marley.  He is a Boer goat.  She has enjoyed taking the goat on long walks.  The county extension agent clipped his hair the other day.  Marley is ready for the show.  I think he really likes his new do.  He seems to walk a little taller and almost strut now.  The goat show is Monday.  My husband has been loading Marley up in a cage he built for him that sits in the bed of a pick-up truck.  They drive around to help Marley get used to traveling so that moving to the fairgrounds will not be traumatic.  While out on the road, Lane gets many inquiries as to how much we want for him.  That can’t be a bad sign.

In addition to these animal projects, Clayton, Kyla, and Jake are also performing the grand entry for two rodeos this weekend as members of the Grimes County Sheriff’s Junior Mounted Posse.  They have been working so hard to learn and perfect the routine both at home and at formal practices.  Their performance is in honor of all Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing In Action (MIA).  And, it is very patriotic.  It makes you proud to be an American.

Jake and Kyla are also competing in the Creative Arts Division.  They are entering the food preparation contest, fine arts, jewelry, and photography.  4-H and the county fair give us opportunities to showcase what our children have done all year.  Their interests may change from year to year, but there is almost always a way to make it a part of 4-H.  This great organization is not just for country kids or animals projects.  It is so much more.  I consider it an important part of our homeschool.

Next Saturday, Isaac will be competing in the Stick Horse Race at the Bull Buck Out.  He is too little to Mutton Bust like Jake has in the past, but Isaac will get dressed up like a cowboy and compete to see who is the best stick horse rider.  This contest is always so much fun to watch.

Needless to say we are going to be extremely busy for the next two weeks.  I hope you understand, but I have decided to focus on my children and their many activities and needs during the Grimes County Fair.  Therefore, I will not be writing or posting any articles for the next two weeks.  Please take this time to search through the archives and see if you missed any articles that interest you.

If you are interested in attending the Grimes County Fair and/or any of the associated events like rodeo and dances, then check out the official site of the Fair Association for the schedule.  Maybe I will see you there.  Until then, have a safe summer!

Marley

Meet Marley.  No, not the unruly dog in the movie, “Marley and Me.”  I don’t know how well-behaved this Marley is, but he is my daughter’s show goat.  Marley is a Boer goat.  This breed is raised for its meat.

Did you know world-wide that goat is the most consumed meat?  However, I have never tried any before.  When raising market animals, it is always important to prepare the children what purpose the animal is serving.  She understands what the term “market” means.  Kyla knows not to get too attached to Marley.

Marley is a wether, which means a castrated goat.  He likes to go on walks with Kyla around the yard and neighboring pasture.  The focus on market animals is body confirmation.  It directly affects the quality of the meat.

Good confirmation on a goat consists of many things.  Its body, the trunk, should be as close to a box shape as possible.  It needs length of body.  The longer the hind end the better.  When selecting a goat, you need to watch it walk and make sure that it is sound.  Ideally the back hoof will step in the same track made by the front hoof.

While preparing to show an animal, you need to break it to lead.  You train it to walk beside you on its left side.  Kyla takes it to her grandpa’s cabin when she visits.  Marley is doing much better now compared to when we first brought him home.  She does not have to pull him around anymore.  He goes really well when she jogs with him.

This will be Kyla’s first animal project for 4-H.  In the past, she has always done other projects like photography, clothing and textiles, and food and nutrition.  After watching most of the market animal shows last year at the Grimes County Fair, she decided that she would really like to show a goat.

For most of Kyla’s life, we have raised animals on our farm.  We have chickens, rabbits, dairy goats, sheep, and ducks.  Her grandfather runs a cattle ranch equipped with many horses.  Raising animals is not new to Kyla.  However, raising farm animals and raising show animals are two completely different ventures.  Therefore, this is a new to all of us.

Being a homeschooling family puts us at a slight disadvantage from the public school kids.  The Ag teachers are highly involved in his/her student’s projects.  The teachers know where to buy the animal, when to buy it, what to feed it, etc.  They help them get it ready for the show.

We are in 4-H, but the better part of this year we have been without a county agent in charge of animal projects.  So, what to do?  I sought out an experienced and helpful family in my county.  I explained the situation to them and they understood.  Thankfully, this family volunteered to take us under their wing.  They helped us find a good goat.  They are advising Kyla what to feed Marley, how to exercise him, etc.  This family is truly teaching my daughter the market goat project.

Kyla would not have been able to bring a competitive market animal to the show ring without the knowledge and experience of this family.  Our whole family is completely grateful for their help.   Kyla shows Marley at the beginning to June at the Grimes County Fair.  She has really enjoyed raising a market goat so far.

We cannot learn everything from books.  Sometimes we have to seek out mentors.  Do not be afraid to ask questions and/or ask for help.  People usually want to help out and share their knowledge.

I hope that you enjoyed meeting Marley, a temporary addition to our modern homestead.