This past week's excitement all centered around the Allegan County Fair. We kicked it off on Monday afternoon with the Rabbit Show, which started at 4pm. Alora was up first with a group of Cloverbuds.
She did a great job, had fun, learned some things and walked away with a big smile, a certificate for free ice cream, and a ribbon!
She also received a gift from her friend Emmett
Ezri had to wait a bit for her turn, as this year they had all of the Meat Pens judged before continuing with Showmanship. While we waited, the other kids burned some energy exploring around the rabbit barn, Elam really enjoyed the tractors.
About 1.5 hours later, it was finally her turn.
This year, since she was no longer a Cloverbud but a full 4H member, she went through the full process of a showman, beginning with handling and examining her rabbit while the judge made marks to score her. Then she answered questions the judge posed to her, also contributing to her score.
Ezri did not place in her group of 8-9 year old showmen, but she walked away smiling. She had fun and did her best, and was a good sport, congratulating her fellow showmen. After she was done, she was given a gift by her friend Travis
Ezri also was set to show Barb for his breed class, which meant more waiting. A LOT more waiting. Over 2 hours more waiting... While Daddy took the other kids to watch the fair parade, Ezri and I watched from the barn while I kept my ears open for her to be called up to show again.
That call came after the parade was fully done. About 8pm, the New Zealand Bucks were called to the table, so Ezri and Barb took their place. The judge looked at every rabbit at the table from that group, judging them for the best form/health/look.
Ezri waited with a smile while he checked all of the other rabbits as well.
Shocked would be an understatement to explain her expression and mine as she was handed a blue ribbon declaring Barb the first place New Zealand Buck!
She was then asked to stay at the table while he looked over all of the New Zealand Does.
After he had looked over the does and awarded places with that group, he declared Barb the Top New Zealand rabbit, and she was then sent on to join the other breed group winners for a chance at Best of Breed!
For quite a while the judges examined each of the first place rabbits from each breed
and then deliberated.
They awarded Barb as the Best of Show Rabbit!!!
By this time, Daddy and the rest had re-joined us, just in time to see her win this award. There was so much excitement in our crew it was palpable!
This meant Ezri got her picture taken and would be given a plaque
Since Alora very much had a part in raising and working with Barb, we thought it only fair she get in on some of the glory too!
We always knew Barb was the best bunny, but this award was just so surprising and exciting to all of us!
Finally, after nearly 5 hours of being held and handled and fussed with, Barb was finally allowed to return to his cage to eat and relax!
We hung his sign up before we left, however!
Tuesday afternoon, it was humid, as we returned to the fair for the rides! We also needed to begin a treatment for Barb's feet as he had begun to develop sores on his hocks as well as his front feet from the wire in the cages he was not used to.
We paused part way through the early evening to watch the bird show again.
Then we found some dinner, before heading back out for more rides.
As the night wore on and the sun started to set, friends had to go home for school the next morning, but our kids kept right on riding for a while longer, until it was truly dark and well past bedtime.
A stop by the rabbit barn to say goodbye to Barb for the night, and we were on our way home for some much needed rest. Before Ezri could go to bed, however, she had to write a Thank You letter to the family who sponsored the plaque she won.
Wednesday morning, we were back at the fair bright and early for the Ladies Day program and my third attempt at winning the Young Homemaker contest. My ever faithful fan club was in tow.
This year, after having missed being in the parade on the float due to the rabbit show, I had reservations about winning because of the conflict it would cause for me in the coming year, but of course I still wanted to win after trying so many times.
I walked away with a 3rd place, which is just fine now. I'm walking away from that pursuit.
After the awards were presented, Elam helped me and the other contestants hand out prizes for a while.
Then I was awarded my own sash from my awesome friend "2019 Hopkins Young Homemaker", which I think is more awesome than the one the contest winner received, because it comes from people who see my value and love me daily.
Speaking of those people...
After some lunch, we went to get Ezri's plaque and picture. Then, we spent a few hours at home relaxing on Wednesday afternoon, before returning to the fair in the evening for the Monster Truck event with our friends. Before the event started, we were able to go out onto the track to see the trucks up close and meet drivers, which the kids loved!
Then it was time for the show!
We had a great spot to catch all sorts of action!
As the night wore on, a storm built up and made its way toward Allegan. The skies continued to darken and then there was lightning. After that, the fairgrounds evacuated the stands for safety.
We made our way to the cattle barn to wait out the storm, which was not much of anything as it went by, and was gone as fast as it came through. While we waited, we visited with some of my family and kept kids busy with food.
Once the storm and rain had passed, we went back out into the fairgrounds were we were surprised to hear the show would continue, so we we made our way back to the grandstands and enjoyed the remainder of the show!
Thursday was a fairly normal at home day for us, which was much needed. That evening, the kids and I headed back to the fair to take care of Barb's feet. We also completed updating the award sign, adding both girls' picture so it was clear who Barb belonged to!
We also had some dinner, bought some fair things, and watched a bit of the Tractor Pulls from outside the fence.
That night, on our way back to the van, we rode the tram up the hill. Alora was asked by the tram driver if she would like to ride with him in the tractor! What a fun privilege!!!
Friday afternoon, the kids and I returned to the fair to again work with Barb. While there, we learned that there had been 2 rabbit deaths over the days since the show, and concern was mounting among supervisors and rabbit owners. After a while of waiting and asking around, we learned we would be able to bring Barb home that day instead of waiting until Saturday at 10pm as there were other rabbits being watched with concern. We were directed to quarantine him and give him Pedialyte just in case, as the cause of the rabbit deaths was unknown. So, Daddy came down with his cage and we loaded him up and gladly brought him back home a day early!
Saturday we scrambled to get things done and caught up before heading out mid-afternoon for Jackson, MI to catch another roller derby bout. Once again, I was photographing the event.
It was a long ride out a late night by the time we got back home, so we were super glad to not have to go retrieve a rabbit as well. Sunday morning was a blur of tired people as Ezri and I rushed to the fair and back to retrieve all of the girls' exhibits while Daddy got the rest of the family ready for church. After a chaotic morning there of un-planned teaching, we stopped by the grocery store for food, where Tierney and Elam got to drive the cart! The rest of the afternoon was lazy and sleepy.
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