The Knox County Fair...2018 Edition

We moved out of the Knox County Fair on Thursday night. 

I think we all felt like the week flew by and it was the shortest fair week we have ever had.

I don't know why it went so quickly.  Usually, we are killing time just waiting for our release time and so sick of the fair we can't wait to get home.  This year, we just weren't ready to leave.

Don't worry...we are exhausted and glad to be home...but it just went too fast.

Maybe it was the beautiful weather...not too hot and not too cold.  Or maybe it is that our kids are growing up.  There is less parenting and more sitting and watching them do their thing.

The boys stayed busy all week, and there were days we barely saw them.  We didn't have the long stretches of just sitting and visiting with everyone.  We were all on the move.  

Maybe it was because Daniel and I didn't take the whole week off work and left our teenagers to man the fair by themselves some days.

I don't what it was...but it just went fast!

Sunday afternoon, a group of kids in the goat barn did a practice show.  The kids all brought their goats in to walk the ring and give tips and pointers to each other.  This was great for Isaac since he is a newbie.  

I was so impressed with the kindness and leadership of these kids.  There was no competition, just a willingness to help each other.  And as far as I know, there was no adult prompting involved.

Each day, we found time to get the heifers out and have some show ring practice.  Sunshine needed a lot of practice.  She started off the week dragging Daniel down the barn aisle.  She knows where the exit door and her stall are....and she made a bee-line for them each time.  

For some reason none of the cows liked this side of the show ring.  Sunshine was giving Walker a run for his money.

Isaac and Ribbon just did their thing.

Tuesday night was the feeder calf and steer show.  The boys both helped out with the fitting.  

It is always hard to get the clothes change timing right.  You have to give yourself enough time to change before the show, but still get all the dirty work done before you change clothes.  

Isaac showed his heifer Hairspray in the first feeder class.  

That's the smile of a kid you just won his class.

Walker was in the heavier class.  Sunshine weighed 582 pounds...and the limit was 600 pounds.  Talk about cutting it close!

Sunshine came a long way this week.  She did well in the ring and Walker had a lot of fun with her.  

​They placed third in the class.  The judge said she would do better in a breeding class instead of a market class, so he couldn't place her any higher.  We agree.

Isaac went back in for the final drive and received the Reserve Grand Champion handshake.

Both boys quickly put their heifers back in the chute.  While Daniel broke them down, Isaac and Walker ran around the corner to help friends finish getting ready for their steer classes.  

One of our cousins had an amazing week.  He ended up with two steers in the born bred and raised class and the final drive.  He obviously couldn't show both at the same time, so he asked Isaac to show one of the steers.  Isaac was in 7th heaven.  He loves showing and really misses showing steers.  

Wednesday was showmanship and breed classes.  

Isaac moved up to senior showmanship.

I have a hard time with that word....senior.

It was anybody's game.  They are all great showmen.

He was a little disappointed with 5th place, but he understands why.  Isaac is very intense.  Some judges like that and some don't.  You just never know,,, and this judge wasn't an intensity judge.  

Walker moved up to intermediate showmanship.

He placed 2nd and was very happy with that.  Jewel is such a sweetheart and they work so well together.  

Next up was the breed show.

Both Ribbon and Jewel were in the other breeds classes. 

Isaac and Ribbon won Champion Other Breeds and Walker and Jewel won Reserve Champion Other Breeds.  

Ribbon then went on to the final drive for a supreme champion to be named.  

Ribbon won Reserve Supreme Champion Female!

We are always excited when the Miniature Herefords do well among the full-sized cows.  We know every one does not agree...but we are still happy.

It was a good week.  The cows did well, the boys did well and we got to spend time with old friends and make new friends.  

We have seen both of the boys grow and mature so much this year.  We didn't see a whole lot of the boys this week.  Not because they were off gallivanting with friends, even though they did some of that, but because they were off helping others almost every spare moment.  We couldn't get mad when we had to scoop the poop, because we knew they were off doing something good.  That is a really good feeling as a parent.  

But the best feeling as a parent, is when someone comes up to you and thanks you for the help that your kids gave them.  The kindness they showed to someone.  The extra mile to talk with that nervous kid.  The advice that some kid won't take from a parent, but just eats up from one of the big kids.  

All things we didn't even know were happening.  

We have the big kids now.  Some moments I know this, but most moments I am in denial.  This week at fair, there was no denying that they are quickly becoming the leaders in the barn.  It is a huge responsibility, but one I can't wait to continue seeing them grow into.  

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