Mason Dixon Fair 2016

We have finished up our part of the Mason Dixon Fair this year, although the fair runs through this Saturday. There was no angora goat show this year (very sad news), so we took three of our boer-cross goats to show. Colleen and I each entered a jam. Colleen's jam placed first for her category, mine placed second. She was really excited about that (this was the first year she entered a jam).

For some reason, our goats were put in the "Sheep" tent, even though there was a "Goat" tent (as well as a "Cow" area and a "Swine" area). It was very strange. Having never been in the Sheep tent before, I cannot say if it was just this year, or if this happens all the time, but the sheep seem to enjoy escaping their pens. Then someone yells, "Sheep!" and all available bodies assemble to corner the sheep into an area where they can be caught and put back into their pen.  By the end of our three days there, the word "sheep!" seemed to be synonymous with a four-letter-word.

The cow area was behind us. I always find them interesting to watch. Many of these animals (not just the cows) are 4H and FFA projects, and you can tell the love and care that the owners put into their animals. Since we are there during all hours of the day, we see the morning, afternoon, evening, and late shifts. We get to watch the cleaning, bathing, fluffing, primping, and cuddling that occurs. The cows directly behind us (pictured below), were definitely quite tame. The lighter colored one was regularly used as a couch by her young owner, with her sprawling across the cow's back, and the two of them taking a quick nap together.

The very tame cows that were behind us for the week.

Is she picking her nose?

Below are pictures of Colleen showing the three different goats:

Colleen showing Gracie. I did tell her to smile before she went in the show ring. 

Colleen showing Luna Belle.

Colleen and Little Red.

If you have never had your goats in a fair situation, just know that they will want what the other animals are eating, no matter what it is. That's just how it is. In previous years, we have seen some interesting ways in which the goats try to go about sampling their neighbors food. Some of the sheep, like our goats, had constant hay access through hay nets and bags, while others were on a feeding schedule. The sheep diagonal to us were on a feeding schedule, and they were not happy with this arrangement; to the extent that they were eating hay that our goats had dropped on the ground by sticking their faces through the bars into our goat pen to get to it. Luna Belle (the red goat with horns) took offense to this and dealt with it in a very goat way: by head butting them. The sheep dealt with it very differently, however, and grabbed her horns in their mouth and pulled very hard. Luna Belle did not like that at all. She twisted until she was finally free, and then ran to the other corner of the pen, glaring angrily at the sheep. Unconcerned, the sheep continued eating the hay off the ground. This became too much for Luna Belle, who then had to head butt the sheep again, thus starting the whole cycle all over. At some point they either ran out of hay to eat or got tired of fighting each other, because it stopped.

Then we get to the end of our time there, and stall cleaning. It is impossible to clean a stall with three goats inside of it. The stalls next to us were empty, though, so we put the goats in there temporarily. I didn't realize that we had just put them directly across from the sheep that Luna Belle had been fighting with earlier, or that she still had a grudge against them. In very little time, she had managed to squeeze herself through the bars into their pen, and was tossing her head around in a blatant show of aggression. Enough to impress the sheep into submission. Once that was over, Luna Belle realized that there was nothing good to eat over there, so she settled for taking a drink from the water bucket, with one eye on the sheep, to make sure that they were watching. By that time I had managed to walk around the set of pens to get to the front of that one so I could open it. But Luna Belle was ready to leave then anyway. She had done what she had come to do.

Colleen and Gracie snuggling in the goat pen.

The Mill of Bel Air had a tent set up not too far from where we were. They had some free things that they were giving away.  Colleen made sure to go get one - she got a dog toy. Toby has already been enjoying it, especially when the center has peanut butter inside!

Toby enjoying his new toy.

Mason Dixon Fair 2014: Tuesday 7/8/14

Tuesday was very busy.  Colleen had shows basically back-to-back-to-back.  The Open Fiber Goat Show began at 4 pm with Showmanship.  Colleen won first in her age category since she was the only one in her age category.  She did not do so well once she was competing with the other first place Showmanship competitors.  Charcoal, her angora goat, was quite hot, and not used to being walked on a lead.

Colleen and Charcoal begin their walk around the ring for the judge.

Charcoal won first place in her class for fiber goats (Senior Doe Kid), since she was the only one.  She also won Champion Doe Colored Doe (she actually had some competition there).  Based on comments from the spectators, fairgoers, and even the judge, she was also deemed (unofficially) the "cutest" angora goat there.  I totally agree.

Colleen adjusting Charcoal's feet during the judging.

The Fiber Goat Show ran from 4pm until after 6pm, when the Meat Goat Show started, which Colleen was also participating in.  Luckily, they started with Showmanship, beginning with the older group and going to the youngest group.  This gave us enough time to finish the fiber show, run Charcoal back to her pen, and switch goats. 

Colleen during Showmanship with Squeaker.  Notice how she's not even looking at the judge?

Following showmanship, it was time for Colleen's last show, with Little Buddy.  At home, during the few times that she had worked with him, he had refused to walk anywhere, simply laying down.  I was wondering how this would play out in the show ring; whether his interest in other goats would keep him on his feet (he's a nosy little bugger), or whether he would just lay down and play dumb.  Apparently he was happy to stay on his feet, but didn't actually want to walk anywhere.

Colleen and Little Buddy having a battle of wills in the show ring.

I guess I should be happy that she has no interest in showing cows.

Mason Dixon Fair 2014: Monday 7/7/14

We do not do a lot of shows.  With both of us working and Colleen being relatively young it just doesn't work out well.  However, the Mason Dixon Fair is close to home and one that we usually participate in.  It is also the first show of the season.  My daughter shows a few goats and I usually enter some items in the home goods. 

Monday was a busy day, as we were getting all of our tack, feed, and of course the goats ready to travel.  Even though the show is less than 15 miles from our house, it is still a big endeavor.  I cannot imagine what it would be like to be traveling several states away!  At least for this show, if we forget something, we can make a short trip back home to get it.

Charcoal, Little Buddy, and Squeaker settle into their new home for a few days.

Colleen only had one show on Monday: Breeding goats, with Squeaker.  As her mother, I had encouraged her to work with the goats that we knew she would be showing, so that they would walk on the lead around the show ring for her.  This wasn't her first show, and although she's young, she knew better what to expect this year. As her mother, I of course have no idea what I am talking about.  So she chose not to work with her goats until a few days before the show (this is not what is recommended by the way).  Which definitely showed in the ring. 

Colleen doing final touch-ups to Squeaker before taking her into the ring.

I am not, and will not, be the kind of parent who does their child's homework for them.  This is not to say that  I will not help her.  Chad and I both helped her clip the goats (which she is not able to do herself) and wash them in preparation for the show.  However, I believe that she should be responsible for age-appropriate tasks (such as feeding, water, and teaching them to walk on a lead).

Colleen and Squeaker walking around the ring for the judge.

The judges were all very nice about it (there were other kids who were in the same predicament).  They did not come out and tell the kids that they needed to work with their animals more.  They all said something along the lines of, "These kids had very uncooperative animals to work with and made the best of it."  But it also means that Colleen came in last in showmanship (this is where Colleen is being judged on her ability to show an animal).  Colleen didn't seem to mind coming in last, as she came in first/second/other places for other shows, but I minded.  I guess I felt that she didn't do the best that I knew she could have and I wanted her to.  I guess I will have to work on letting that go.  She had fun, and that's definitely important too.  Although I have asked some of the older 4H girls to give her some tips and encouragement for the next show (4H Fair).  That way she has some ideas on what specifically to work on, and it's not coming from me.


Colleen and Chad chillin'.

Mason Dixon Fair 2013: Day 2

Yesterday was a very busy day for us at the Mason-Dixon Fair. After the am goat-feeding (for the fair goats), we took a few hours at home to take care of other animals and pick green beans, and then headed back in the afternoon for the fiber goat show.  Fiber goats are shown with halters rather than collars (so that their fleece is not harmed).  Luckily there was an old pro there who was willing to share her knowledge; we apparently were walking our goats around with the halters on incorrectly!  It was very nice of her to let us know before we got into the show ring and the judge had to tell us.

So, Colleen was up first, with Fiber Goat Showmanship (in showmanship they judge the handlers rather than the animals). She was first in her age class, and received Reserve Champion Showmanship overall for fiber goats:

 

After showmanship the fiber goats competed by age class.  Both of our does were in the same class, as they are the same age.  Sassafrass (the greyer one) came in second, and Midnight (the black/grey one) came in third.  Of course, Colleen had chosen to show Sassafrass and was quite happy that her goat placed above mine:

 

Since Sassafrass placed second, she got to compete for both Supreme Champion and best fleece.  She placed 4th:

And yes, that is Chad holding a goat that is not ours. The young man (he's 4!) had 2 goats entered, and they were both competing in Supreme Champion.  The black goat that Chad led around won that category.

And that's not all! Showmanship for the market goats was also this evening.  Apparently the adult class (which they so nicely call "Older and Bolder") only had one entry, so they decided that it would be fun to have me walk one of our crazy goats around.  I got a nice little blue "Participation" ribbon (which I will take over the mud brown 8th place one Colleen got with this goat on Monday).

Colleen also had to do showmanship for the market goats. She placed 2nd in her age category:

And here we are with all our ribbons and Colleen's trophy:

Mason Dixon Fair 2013: Day 1

Yesterday was our first day at the Mason Dixon Fair, located just above the Maryland line in Delta, PA.  The goats that we took with us were mostly cooperative getting into the trailer and luckily it's only about 15 minutes from our house.  Unfortunately, we picked the exact time of the afternoon that it decided to rain in which to drive over and unload.  Extra bath for the goats I guess! 

Last night Colleen showed 2 does in the breeding classes. Our younger doe, "Fluffball," placed 8 out of 8:

 



The 2-year old doe, "Snowflake," placed 3rd out of 6!  Both of these goats gave Colleen a hard time, as they did not settle in too well at first.

After they were done showing, and people were coming around to look at them, they would let everyone pet them but us. I guess they were afraid we were going to make them walk around that ring and get felt by the judge again!

The angora girls on the other hand, settled right in. Their pen is right next to the tack pen, and they have already tried to help themselves to some of the people snacks stored next door. We also have our hay in there, and Midnight has figured out that she can stick her head through the bars and eat as much as she wants!