County fair chickens, cowboys & ribbons--quite the summer blowout

I just learned a blogging friend entered her photos into the county fair

after being inspired by my post about doing just that.

Competing chicken beauties we ogled...

This made me happy.

Then she tells me her husband saw her example

and he screwed up the courage to enter his baked goods

into the local county fair (there's a men-only category).

Very cool 'do!

This made me even more happy.

So, I've decided I should risk accusations of bragging and write about this year's results

'cause maybe another person would be similarly inspired. =)

I don't pretend to understand 4-H economics. Wow!! =)

Plus, I just learned fair organizers say that

the more people enter stuff, the better the fair.

This duck looks like a deep thinker to me...

So, you are helping your community by doing this, not merely seeking approval. =)

Loved the feather shake-out on this gorgeous rooster.

Didn't get his head in this shot, but it's the only fluff-up he did.

Last year I entered my photos into the county fair for the 1st time.

And I won some ribbons, which was a surprise.

No 1st place, but I was delighted to win anything.

And I learned a lot, and had a great time. =)

How many dollars-worth of cowboy hats are in this photo?

This year I entered again, and DH entered a few, as well.

This weekend, as soon as we stepped into the photo-zone,

I saw one of my photos from afar & saw the blue of a 1st place ribbon.

SWEET! Already beat last year.

So, DH & I cruise around, ogling folks' fabulous work...

(The center bottom one is a super cool abstract. Looks like waves but is rock! =) )

...and seeing how we did.

So, here's Sammy's results:

1st & 3rd place in "flowers", 2nd & 3rd in "insects and reptiles"

1st place in "any other" category

1st place in "seascapes/marine"

and a nothing (upper left) and 1st in & best in show in "plant life/natural environment (no flowers)"

So, at first I saw the giant rainbow ribbon & freaked.

They give out one per each division (beginner, intermediate & professional).

I was SUPER amazed.

I'd only seen photos of people & agricultural plants get best in show,

so I figured I'd never get it.

Then, DH noticed a small chart on the wall,

which lists the special awards.

It listed best in show for the 3 divisions,

then best in show overall,

AND MY NAME WAS THERE!

You can't tell fm. the above (& I didn't notice in person)

there's TWO giant rainbow ribbons there.

Wow!!

I'd call this some pretty serious positive reinforcement for

doing new things despite the discomfort & initial floundering,

working on your skills,

joining the fray,

and thinking happy thoughts.

Check your ego at the door

In case you think my head will be getting huge from ego,

I overheard a woman talking to her husband,

looking at & discussing my ribbon-festooned photo.

"It's a picture of bark.

On a tree."

Like that's the dullest thing in the world. =)

Made me laugh out loud.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, baby!

xoxoxobb

the county fair -- always a great day =)

     

 three amigos
 

blue ribbon winner in "most winsome" contest =)

presumed progeny of "most winsome," basking in those adorable genes...

Gorgeous black and white lady.

Had a nice chat with their owners, and met their son, who raised this cow. Nice work!

The conservation biologist (cb) in me says "hm...."

This exhibit won "most educational"; cb says "Really?"
Water conservation means very different things to different people.

 Verrrrry serious agriculture going on around here. MA-jor.

Not a good shot, but this is the auction arena. Very interesting insight into the world (about which I know NOTHING). LOVE to watch this. There's major money flinging around. And it seemed that the farm bureau (hope I have that right) bids on animals people weren't bidding on. And I think that's nice.

Oh, and I learned the signals for whether you want the animal that you just bought processed (hand chopping the neck move), or for resale (finger pointing towards sky and making a circle). Never saw the signal for "live pick up" but I imagined maybe you pretend you're driving a truck? =)

Anyhow, I noticed different kids would get VERY different prices (per pound) for what seemed to be equally healthy animals (to my exceedingly untrained eye). So, I asked a woman who was there what determines the price. She said a) if you call a number of buyers before, so they arrive and bid against each other, that's very helpful, and b) it's who you know.

I was guessing that (b) might be part of it, but then that it also made sense. If your best friend's kid is selling his sheep, why not bid heavy on it? Of course I hope if you're not super connected you can still get a decent price. Anyhow, that was all very interesting to me.

And God knows I love the cowboy hats, inside jokes (from the auctioneer), and most of all the animals and the 4-H kids handling and selling animals that outweigh them, shoveling out corrals, changing water bins, working REALLY hard. SO impressive. Love it.

 coltish
Look how LONG those legs are already vs. the adult! Oh, my.

Last Christmas we went to Mt. Vernon, then I got very interested 'cause GW was an a-MA-zing farmer. Super inventive, methodical, bold. SO impressive. His crops were on a 7 year rotation--jeepers! Read part of his biography when I got back. Such an interesting guy and SO deserved to be our 1st president. I had NO idea. I'm a TOTAL fan, now. =)

And last but not least, the winner of the most coveted and competitive award at the County Fair:

"Best Hair"

biobabbler