New Ducks Arrived Today!

We've ordered some new ornamental ducks and they came today courtesy of the US Postal Service. They even called me at 6:30 a.m. to tell me the birds were here! We have a new pair of Chinese Mandarins that are "split for white." What that means is that the pair are the normal coloring as seen here. But 25% of their offspring will be this beautiful white variation! And new to our poultry menagerie this year are these Bahama Pintails, which are "split for silver." Here is a normal Bahama Pintail. So pretty!

And 25% of their offspring will be this silver variation!

Aren't they all so beautiful?! We are all excited about next spring's Mandarin and Pintail ducklings! Can't wait!

2009 Ozark Memories Day Parade

ClaireAnna riding Cindy and her best little 4-H buddy, Dayna riding Kenai in the 2009 Ozark Memories Day Parade. This is our little town's yearly festival. We start the morning off with a Lion's Club pancake breakfast. Then the parade. The afternoon is filled with kid's games, music, craft booths, contests, pony rides and food booths. A band booster chicken dinner closes out the day at 5:00 PM. The whole thing is very small town and quaint. We see all our friends and have a nice, relaxing day. Today, the weather was perfect, sunny and about 75 degrees with no humidity and a wonderful breeze. This is my town! Nana Na Na Na.........

Homeschool Co-op Field Trip to the US Post Office

2009 County Fair Full Report

Rabbit Show

Tuesday, 5:00 PM

ClaireAnna showed all the Lionheads this year. She won 1st and 2nd Senior Buck, 1st and 2nd Senior Doe, Best of Breed with "Lily" and Best Opposite to Breed with "Hagrid" !

ClaireAnna and Lily

Poultry Show

Wednesday, 10:00 AM

Each of the girls showed several chickens and waterfowl. ClaireAnna won Reserve Champion Cockerel with her little Serema and 2nd place with a pair of Muscovy ducks. Kate won Reserve Champion Other Fowl with her African Goose.

ClaireAnna had two pairs in the same class so her friend, Sarah, showed her Silver Sebright pair while she showed her Milli Fleurs.

ClaireAnna with "Serious Black" Reserve Champion Cockerel.

Katelynn showing her Partridge Cochin Pullet.

Meat Goat Show

Wednesday, 2:00 PM

ClaireAnna showed two goats; a market goat doe and a breed class 0-6 month old doe. Her market goat, "Grace" won Grand Champion! This is the biggest win in the goat show and we were SO excited, especially because we had bred this doe and owned her dam and sire and there were some pretty big name show goat people in the competition! Grace went on to win the "bred and owned" class for any age goat up against some really nice older does. "Shiloh" won her age class and third breed doe over all.

That's ClaireAnna and Shiloh on the right.
GRAND CHAMPION MARKET GOAT!

This is ClaireAnna presenting her Grand Champion Market Goat to the local business men for "Auction" She got $310!

Market Hog Show

Wednesday, 7:00 PM

Kate really worked hard with her hog this year. She fed him right and let him run often for exercise. We felt going in that she had a good chance to place high. We had no idea he would win his class and Reserve Champion Hog! Yay! Great Job, Kate!

Bath Time! Winner of Class 6! Waiting for championship class.

Kate "sold" her hog at the market sale for $600!

Cattle Show

Thursday, 2:00 PM

Kate helped her friend show some of her cattle and then she showed her market steer. Kate's steer this year was too young. We knew he was going to be small, but her was all we had after Ted forgot to hold back a weanling from the spring before! Anyway, "Ben" came in last place, even though he was very well behaved. :) We'll fatten him up for the next 2 months and butcher him in November.

4-H Dance

Friday night after the Market Sale.

A DJ plays and EVERYBODY dances, kids age 2 to 20 and parents too! This year, ClaireAnna was having so much fun, I let her stay to the end, about 12:00 PM. Friday night, the older kids stay the night in the cattle barn. Kate stayed. Claire and I went home.

Dog Show

Saturday, 10:00 PM

See previous post for full report on the dog show and a picture of ClaireAnna winning Cloverbud High Point for the 4th year in a row!

4-H Olympics.

Saturday, 1:00 PM

All the kids are separated into age groups. The seniors and divided into 6 teams. Then the juniors are added. Then the peewees, so all the teams are even. Each team has to complete a course with obstacles and challenges. The team with the best time wins. This year, ClaireAnna was on the winning team.

Potluc

Sat. 7:00 PM after the Awards Ceremony.

This is the last event before pack up and go home. The meat is provided and we all bring sides or desserts. It's a wonderful time with wonderful friends.

Fair is over, time to go home and sleep for a week! See you next year!

2009 Pope County Fair Dog Show

There are 4 events; Rally, Recall, 1 min. sit stay, and 3 min down stay. The kids and dogs are scored on each event and the scores are added. The pair with the highest score wins "High Point".

This video is of ClaireAnna and Lucky doing the Novice A Rally course.

Getting Ready for the 1 minute sit/ stay.....

1 minute Sit / Stay.....3 minute Down/ Stay.....

Judge awarding the Cloverbud High Point Ribbon to ClaireAnna for the FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW!