2011 Achievement Days–DAY 2

 

LaMoure county 4-H Achievement Days was held on June 28-29.  This is a small county; the kids completed a large number of projects; all the kids did very well.

Today’s events included the small animal judging, tractor driving, large animal judging and project pick-up.

Dash and Angelina competing in the 'Hen over 1 year’ category (above) and below they are showing their ‘3 pullets’.  Angelina showed the Buff Orpington and Dash showed the Barred Rocks.

Angelina and Zeke in the Senior Buck lot of rabbits.  We later learned that Zeke’s rabbit, Oreo, is really a Doe!!  Well, I had checked earlier and really thought it was a doe, too, but the kids were insistent.  Nothing like a great vet to confirm your suspicions.  Rabbits are hard to sex when they are young, so I’m sure the breeder thought he/she had it right, but only time will tell.  Good thing the name Oreo fits either buck or doe.

Dash was the only entry in the Senior Doe class.

Junior Rabbit Showmanship, above.  Dash was the only Senior Showman in his class, below.

Eating pizza with grandpa is the best.  Just don’t even look at the dirty suburban in the background…

Cleaning those dirty sheep is a real treat!

Angelina in her outfit.

 

Zeke competing in the tractor driving contest.

Dash, true to his nickname, speeding through the course!

 

My sister, Julianne, and her son Weston were able to come and visit during Achievement Days.  She helped by leading a workshop for the Fashion Revue yesterday.

Weston running around the barn – we all gave up on shoes and let the kids wear rubber boots.  WAY less messy!

My dad, holding down the sheep stand, and visiting with another 4-H parent.

Dash, on the far right, visiting with a friend.

Unfortunately, one end of the show barn was swamped with water (if you can call the sludgey stuff water!).  Of course, the boys couldn’t resist playing in it … I pray they’ll stay healthy.  Graham is on the left and a 4-H friend is on the right.

Angelina with her hogs (above) and Louis playing in the water (below).

Angelina’s ewe lamb class.

Zeke, left, and Dash, right, in their market wether class.  Dash placed first in the class.

Sheep showmanship, above.  Dash was Grand, Angelina was Reserve.  Below, they are showing their hogs.  Not sure if it was the barrows or gilts.  Angelina placed first in both classes … the judge joked that he ‘must like cute girls today’, but her hogs were bigger than Dash’s.

Round Robin Showmanship:  Since Dash received Grand in both Sheep and Pig showmanship, Angelina moved up to the Round Robin in the sheep.  She did well with the heifer!  Dash was the Overall Showman and Angelina was the Reserve Overall Showman.

 

Angelina’s results above, Dash’s ribbons below.

Dash’s electricity display above and his Premium ribbon winning Mini-Chocolate Chip Scones (yes, the recipe is at King Arthur…. yes, there is no frosting because it’s a RULE!)

Zeke showed three static exhibits this year as a Cloverbud.  He also showed his rabbit, Oreo (whom we learned was a doe and NOT a buck … I had a hunch and the vet confirmed it for us), and a market wether.  He also received a blue ribbon in the rabbit and sheep showmanship classes. 

Our rhubarb isn’t that great, but at least we had some left!  The stalks are supposed to be uniform in length and diameter.  Diameter was easier to match than length!

Angelina’s herb garden is on the left, Dash’s on the right.

And that is the end of 4-H for this year.  There will be no ND State Fair competitions this year.  The fairgrounds were affected by the flooding in Minot.  The Fair Board decided to hold the Commercial exhibits in the State Fair Building (normally where the 4-H, FFA and Open class exhibits would be housed); the concerts will also go on as planned because the crews were able to save the grandstand, too.  The livestock and small animal barns were flooded.  So, while our kids are disappointed, we are looking at it as a FREE week for family … time to fill as we desire.  We haven’t decided what we’ll do with our week, yet, but you can be sure you’ll be filled in later!