"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Washington State Fair ~ (A Simple Account from a Fair Exhibitor )

 My stint at the 2015 Washington State Fair ( formerly known as The Puyallup Fair ) is over after 5 very long , labor intensive, and fun days and nights at the fairgrounds. I am still recovering. The picture above is of me and our oldest grandchild Bugs *  in my Jacob Sheep exhibit in the Animals of the World barn, an exhibit that is only at the fair for 1 week. I don't think I could have done this  without his help and enthusiasm. ( Did you know that each and every exhibit at your local and state fairs is completely designed, set up , and maintained by the exhibitor for their duration of the fair ? LOTS of preparation and hard work go into these exhibits often done for free or for very little monetary compensation.You should take that into account when you visit your local fairs and thank the people in the exhibits you like. )
 Exhibitors are required to be in their exhibits, or have someone fill in for them for all the hours the fair is open. We ( grandson and me ) were there a minimum of 12 to 15 hours daily, beginning our day an hour and a half before the fair opens to clean out the sheep pens and get ready for the public to view. Here is our oldest grandson ready to greet the public and answer any questions they might have about my sheep.
 Goth, my Jacob Sheep ram and the main attraction of my exhibit. He is 10 years old and this is his last year at the fair. He is now happily at home and sharing a pen with two female Jacob sheep ( ewes). Maybe they will produce some very special spring lambs for me. :)
 Blitzen ( center ) believed himself to be the main attraction and he did a very fine job of looking cute while begging for soda crackers. Since he is a wether ( castrated male sheep ) he was penned up with two ewes ( female sheep ) in my exhibit. We have been getting Blitzen used to a halter and handling so I will have a hands-on and tame sheep for public displays.
 Two of my sisters and their husbands visited me at the fair, but I only had my camera handy for my sister Karen and her husband Kaare , shown above.. ( Thank-you Tom & JoAnn for visiting us too ! )
 My husband was tending things at home and going to work while I was away for so many days but he was able to help out on the last day, Tuesday, after hauling our travel trailer ( home away from home at the fair ) back to Cedar Pond. Here he is with our grandson , ready to greet the public and answer any questions regarding Jacob Sheep.
 Cedar Pond's Tovah (rt.) and her ewe lamb Tauriel shared the pen with Blitzen.
I had a good time at the fair, so did our grandson , but the days of preparation for the fair were also consumed with constant watering of our gardens and livestock, canning a bumper crop of grapes late into the nights preceding the fair, and simple home tasks . We returned home from the last day of the fair after midnight  to begin  unloading sheep and tending to animals missing my presence. I am only now beginning to feel I've caught up on my lack of sleep and with things around Cedar Pond. I've now begun my list of needful things to be done soon. Blogging is one of them...I've missed my blogging time and my blogging friends. But life is good, my animals and gardens keep me busy, my family fills my heart and time spent with them is a blessing of the best kind. (Photo is of Blitzen )

13 comments:

Karen said...

Your exhibit was beautiful as usual. It was so wonderful to see you and Cole. Such an awesome young man.

Anonymous said...

A wonderful exhibit and Jacob Sheep ram is amazing. I guess I didn't make it to the fair to see you. Phooey. I can only imagine how time consuming and tiring it is to have an exhibit at the fair...
Hope you have some good recuperation time at home!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Oh, I would have liked to visit you at the fair, darn it. If you go next year, I will be sure to stop by! I haven't gone to the fair in a few years, but my daughter just bought a home close by. Your sheep are so beautiful and unusual. Love the photos of you and your family - a beautiful family! Such a lot of work, but I know everyone must have loved your booth.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Five wonderful days of enjoying all the hard work that you look forward to every year no matter how much work comes before or after or for that matter during. You will do that every year because that is who you are and what you love. Oh Goth is very handsome:) Congratulations to a family that works hard and plays hard together. Back to blogging I like that:)HUG B

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Wow, thank you for this glimpse into your nice set up at the fair. Those were some long days you and your grandson put in. I love seeing your sheep, they are so interesting.

Have a great week back home ~ Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

Theresa said...

Busy and memorable times! I know you and your Grandson will remember your time together forever:) Have a blessed week ahead dear friend, HUGS!

Connie said...

What a great exhibit! Loved seeing your photos, Kathy. I'm sure that it is a great lot of work to be at the fair, but it looks fun and rewarding too.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

It looks like a wonderful time and yes, I do know what it's like to exhibit. I used to, haven't done in a long time and was exhausted for days and days after. Your exhibit looks fabulous; very well done!

Deb said...

What a fun time you must have, Kathy. I'm sure it is very rewarding and also exhausting. A good tired, though. Deb

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I can see all the work put in to your exhibit Kathy, nicely arranged with lots of interesting things, including the sheep. Blitzen looks sweet with the halter on, a good idea for getting him used to it and then to be on a leash for people visiting.
Hope you can get some rest and caught up at home to enjoy the start of autumn.
xx

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

What a beautiful exhibit - we always enjoy the animal barns at the fair - we go to the NW WA Fair in Lynden, never been to the State Fair - maybe one day. Thanks for sharing.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Your sheep are always so amazing to look at and how I wish I could have visited the fair! One question.......with the fair being a week.....do you leave your sheep there all week at the fair grounds or do you have to load and unload them each day?

KathyB. said...

'Eggs In My Pocket', Kathleen, the sheep are there for the whole week. The fair employs someone to stay after hours in the locked barn with the animals throughout the night who not only guards the barn, but is very knowledgeable about livestock and other animals. ( Thanks Shirley ! )