Randall County Stockshow

Finally--here are the pictures from Randall County. Sadie had a pretty good day:

Lambs: Edward (black faced)--2nd, Oscar--4th

Pigs: 4th and 5th (I honestly can't remember which was which).

As you can see, Robby gets a little nervous/anxious when Sadie is in the ring.

See if you can spot him in the picture of her showing the York--white pig.

Robby's parents came up to watch Sadie show. T.S. stayed with GeGe because of his asthma, but had a ball with the Tirey cousins. Sadie made the sale with all of her animals and "sold" Edward (it's a premium sale which means people aren't really buying the animal, they are just donating to the kids' projects). She's planning on taking him to San Antonio. We're not sure which pig gets to travel to Fort Worth yet, we're waiting to see how they look after being on feed a little longer.

Happy International Stockshow

Sadie and Robby at the end of the day.

Sadie and the judge with Edward, Reserve Grand Champion.

Sadie did end up showing yesterday, and what a fantastic job she did! She started with her lambs. Oscar, her fine wool cross, won his class and was breed champion. Edward, the medium wool, won the light weight class and was reserve breed champion. He ended up being named reserve grand champion.

Sadie listens to the judge talk reasons after showing Oscar. She has Edward set up and ready for the judge in the second picture.

Next came pigs. Sadie's cross, Champ, was put in the Hamp class. He placed second and ended up being reserve breed Hamp. Her York, Steel 13, was first and breed champion. She had an outstanding day, not many kids end up with all four of their animals in the grand or reserve grand champion drive.

Sadie showing Champ.


Showing her York, Steel 13.

Meet Honey

Meet Honey:

She is a Yorkshire gilt (Yorks make great mothers.). In January, Sadie will show her in the county's breeding show. We hope to breed her in the spring so we'll have our own show pigs next year. I hope Sadie enjoys being in the pig business as much as I did when I was younger. Robby still has to find two barrows (boys) for Sadie to show at the county show and at Fort Worth. It's an exciting time of zoo expansion around here.

Fort Worth Stock Show

Sadie and T.S. petting Beauregard (Elsie the Cow's calf)

You can pack a lot into two days. We left Wednesday for Fort Worth and were home this afternoon. What we did at the stock show:

• Checked out exhibits--YAY for free stuff!
• Petting zoo
• Magic Show
• FFA Barnyard--another post with Sadie's pictures of all the animals and babies coming soon
• Rodeo
• Stock show food--overpriced but a GREAT indulgence!
• Fun with cousins, aunts, great-aunts, grandparents and friends
• Oh yeah, Sadie even showed a pig! (pictures to come--this is the only time we lost T.S.; right in the middle of Sadie's class. Don't worry, we found him and Sadie's "fans" have plenty of pictures to share.)

Sadie showed Wilbur on Thursday. She was pulled the first time through for the judge to look at again. She didn't place in the top ten but she showed like a pro. She's already talking about next year.

The happy face marked our pens.

Watching Robby clean up Wilbur. Sadie couldn't do this because she'd already changed into her show clothes.

Sadie waiting for her class to be called. She's posing with her very special pocket brush.

Next stop: San Antonio with Leonard the Lamb.

County Stock Show Pictures

Sadie with Leonard after she showed.

Sadie doing an interview on KNNK radio.

T.S. playing in the dirt. Sadie showing Wilbur.

Sadie showing Harry. Why the shot of her back? Please notice her "poop" rag in the pocket. She had to use the rag to wipe "stuff" off of the pig; then she had to keep it with her. She's definitely a serious showman since she put the rag back in her pocket.

Thanks to Connie for taking such great pictures of the pig show after I left. Sadie had a great day and was so appreciative of everyone who helped her. Pictures of Otis to follow, I'll have to get them from my father-in-law because I accidentally deleted them.

Randall County Junior Livestock Show--2009

Yesterday was another great day for Sadie. Otis placed 3rd--he actually beat another lamb. Leonard placed 2nd and Sadie showed like she had been showing for years. Once again, the judge had fabulous things to say about Leonard but ended by saying he was just too small. Sadie did a nice job in showmanship. Leonard was tired and uncooperative, but Sadie never gave up. The judge had more nice comments about her and the lamb.

In the pig show, both Harry and Wilbur placed 4th. She was chosen to come back to junior showmanship and did a great job. We'll post pictures later.

T.S. had a pretty rough day. He and barn dust don't seem to agree. GeGe took him home after the lambs and came back for pigs, but I ended up having to bring him home.

Robby had a great day, too. All of his FFA kids made the sale. He's already left this morning to go to the Swisher County show.

We were so glad that so all the grandparents were there to watch and that so many of our family friends were there to help and share the day with us.

Happy International Livestock Show--2009

Sadie with judge Ronnie Dennis after receiving the First Year Exhibitor Award.

Sadie with Robby and Jim Mc after the show. Jim Mc helped me with my pigs way back when and he's still helping our 4-H and FFA kids now.

Yesterday was an exciting and busy day. It was Sadie's first "official" stockshow. She worked very hard helping Robby prep all of her animals. There were 20 lambs and close to 80 pigs in our "little" show. Sadie placed first with all of her animals except Otis, who got second. Leonard placed first in his class and was once again the smallest lamb in the class (and barn). The judge had very nice things to say about him and was excited we are planning to take him down the road later on. Otis, Harry and Wilbur all had reserve breed champion as well. Sadie's pig Harry was reserve breed behind the pig that won the show, so she even got to show in the grand drive for Reserve Grand Champion. Although she didn't get that honor, she had a great day and showed well. During the awards ceremony she was named Outstanding First Year Exhibitor.

Sadie showing Otis and then Leonard.

Sadie penned with Harry and showing Wilbur.

**Please note, my camera doesn't do well in barns with lots of dust--I've never been successful with stockshow pictures. The ones of the pigs are a little fuzzy and grainy.

Bath and a Shave

Saturday is the Happy International Livestock Show. We are in full preparation mode. Sadie and Robby washed and clipped her pigs yesterday afternoon. We will probably not see Robby before bedtime anytime this week as he has to oversee all of his students. This week will be a blur of washing, clipping and shearing. The pictures are of Robby clipping Harry and Sadie washing Wilbur.

New Pig

Sadie does have a new pig. She and Robby picked him out Friday and Robby finally negotiated a price Sunday. He (the pig) wasn't feeling too well today and it is muddy, so a name and pictures to come at a later date.

What's that sound I hear?

Today is Saturday and the kids and I are tired. After sleeping later than usual, we've done a little laundry and taken care of the animals. That involved cleaning out Wilbur's house and applying more sunscreen on him. Yes, I said sunscreen. Pigs like to lay out in the sun--white ones like Wilbur will sunburn, so you have to apply sunscreen. (I know, crazy, we have clothes for the lambs and sunscreen--SPF 50--for the pig).

The kids were in the computer room and I was in the living room, when all of the sudden I heard giggling and laughing. From my kids? At the same time? I went to investigate and found both of them, in one chair, playing games on the computer and enjoying each other's company. Way cool! They even let me try a few games--the kids are both better at them than me. You can go to Fun Brain for lots of good games for all ages, some of them even educational.

Wilbur

Meet Wilbur--Sadie bought him today. He seems to have a bit of a personality. Hopefully he'll turn out to be "some pig."