Jinx's Story....Only at the Fair.

We just came off of a week at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, held in Petaluma, Ca.  This is one of our family's favorite small town fairs where many kids have the chance to show their animals that they have been raising and caring for all year long.  Many many memories are made at our county fairs every year, nationwide. 

This little Jersey heifer, Ginny, was given to Paige by a family friend, Regina. We are proud to say Ginny is the very first Jersey that has ever lived on the Grossi Dairy over the past 70 years it's been in existance!  Paige has always had an affinity to Jerseys because of their sweet faces and their light coloring....their looks  remind her of baby deer.  Ginny did Paige well at the Sonoma-Marin Fair....she helped Paige achieve a 1st place ribbon in the Showmanship Class.  

Bryce also has a super sweet Holstein cow named Jinx.  She's three years old, is pregnant with her second calf and he entered her as a 'dry cow' at the fair.  Dry cow simply means she is not milking at the time because she is preparing to give birth and is enjoying a couple of months off from milking.

In my eyes, Jinx is just a big lap cow.  Similar to a dog but much, MUCH larger.  Instead of her sitting on our laps, we sit in hers.  Sweetest bovine creature EVER.

She loves scratches behind her ears and under her chin and loves to give late night, very wet kisses in the barn.

Sweet Jinx surprised us all on the last morning of the fair.  Our nephew, Cameron, had set his early morning alarm for 4 a.m. to milk his cow, Lucy, when he discovered a little bitty head protruding out of Jinx at that same time.  After waking us all up with this discovery, Dominic helped Jinx finish her labor by pulling the calf  the rest of the way out and Jamie was born at 4:15 a.m and approximately 10 days early.

A sweet little heifer, that looks alot like her mama and with the same sweet disposition was here to share the last day of the fair with us and ALL who came by to visit.  People were amazed that she was just hours old....maybe the youngest calf people had ever laid they're eyes on, in real life.

Just a couple of hours after Jamie was born and after being licked clean by her mama, Jamie stood on all four hooves.

It's amazing to me the natural instincts that happen immediately with a newly born calf.  She found her mama and nursed.

Jinx is the ever loving, caring mama.   With the comfort of her 'human family' never leaving her and her baby's side, Jinx seemed happy to share her newborn baby with the public.

One proud mama and a memory that our family and many other families will never forget at the Sonoma-Marin Fair this year.

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Sonoma County Fair Recap

One final fair for the summer, for us.  The Sonoma County Fair encompasses 2 1/2 weeks in total, thankfully the Jr. dairy group comes in on the first week and stays for five days, not the entire two week period. The kids love it.  They look forward to it and work their 4H fair projects all year long to be able to participate in the summer county fairs. 

This was the first year my son, Bryce, participated in the Sonoma County Fair so it was a new experience for him and for me. Dominic showed at this fair, as a child, for many years 30 years ago.  Things are a little more spread out at this fair as compared to the Petaluma, Sonoma-Marin Fair.  A good walk from the barns to the camp trailer, if we couldn't flag down any one of the numerous golf carts zipping around.

Days began at around 7 a.m., for Bryce, with a ride to the barn to feed, water and wash the animals...in our case one frisky heifer named, Roxy.

Show days were excruciating hot standing in the show ring under the covered arena.  

But all the kids were troopers and seemed to manage the heat swimmingly in their sweat soaked "whites".

In between show days, there's down time where we just sit around, try to catch poop before it hits the hay, and make sure all the animals are kept clean, watered and comfortable.

With hot, muggy days, comes beautiful sunsets over the fairgrounds and RV park almost every night and if we weren't busy feeding hungry kids, showering or feeding animals, we would be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of them.

On the last day of the fair, some of the kids competed in Dairy Challenge in the show ring.  To help raise some prize money for the competitors, Dominic graciously offered to let the kids shave his head if enough money was raised.

Before.

During > {thanks Lucas}

After.

Mug Shot.

The Sonoma County Fair also has horse racing.  Always fun at the races.

And NO fair is complete until copious amounts of fair food is consumed.

Until next year!  This year's fair theme.... "Peace, Love & Fair"

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Marin County Farm Day 2012 & Winning Calf Name

The two and a half week old calf we brought to Marin County Farm Day came home with a name.  After tallying all the votes, the winning name is FAITH.  

We will register this calf with her new official name of Faith.  Thanks to all that participated in the voting at Farm Day, it was so much fun!

Marin County Farm Day seems to get bigger and better every year.  There seemed to be many more animals showcased this year and the weather also cooperated, staying dry, thankfully.

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Woodworking For Kids

You guys know how much I love the 4H program if you're a regular reader here.  Our 2011-12 4H season just kicked off and this year along with cooking, both the kids are also signed up for woodworking.  The projects they create can be entered in the county fairs next summer if they decide to do so.

Safety first.

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Future 4-Her

There is no way I could deny my youngest the opportunity to become involved in 4H.  With Bryce, beginning 4H at 5 years old, we found to be a  fantastic experience.  We didn't start him off with animals, he was more interested in cooking so that's the project we signed him up for.  Now, in his second year, he's into photography and cooking.

Like her brother, Paige will also sign up for cooking, since the meetings are held at our house, it's kind of a given.  But I think I see the purchase of a bunny hutch in our near future though.  The other day, at Marin Farm Day, my sister had her kid's 4H bunnies on display.  Remember Cinnamon?  Well, he was there and Paige was more than happy and very proud to take responsibility for showing him to all the kids who attended Farm Day.

Paige & Cinnamon sat with cousin, Leila and Dominic at the Marin Co. Farm Bureau table which was conveniently located right next to our 4H club's table and enjoyed showing the Holland Lop, Cinnamon to all who passed by.

Great life lessons can be learned from owning pets.  I know Paige will share her thoughts and secrets with her future bunny, just as she does with her stuffed animals now.  Having a pet she can call her very own will teach respect and responsibility for other living things.

Having a pet bunny {or any pet} will also provide a more in-depth lesson about life, reproduction, birth, illnesses and eventually death and bereavement.  Even though I don't like to think about the last two lessons mentioned, it's part of the circle of life.

If you want to see what Cinnamon and the other bunnies that belong to my sister looked like when they were babies, just click over to my Hoppity Hop post....Cinnamon was TINY! {she's the only brown one in the photos}

Did you grow up with a pet of your very own?

I love to hear from you! To leave a comment, click on the “Post a Comment” link below. Have a peaceful day.



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Emma and Barina {the calves} at Farm Day

Today we loaded up Emma and Barina in the trailer, drove in the torrential rains, down the freeway in backed up traffic to make it to Marin County Farm Day. 

Farm Day provides hands-on educational experiences outside the classroom, including stations designed by the Marin Master Gardeners. Approximately 30 Northern California ranchers, farmers, producers and educators provide interactive exhibits on agriculture, health, farm animals, gardens and environmental education.

This was Emma and Barina's first public outing and they did great! 

Kids that normally don't get the chance to see a farm animal up close were able to pet and look at these calves.  The Jersey calf belongs to Bryce's fellow 4H member and schoolmate, Gracie, Justice her calf is 4 months old and will also be shown at the fair this summer.

 

My nephew, Gavin, will be showing Emma in the Sonoma-Marin fair this summer....I think they've bonded.

Our Tri-Valley 4H had a display of rabbits and cavies for kids to pet and learn about.  This type of event is always a great opportunity for the 4H members to teach other kids and adults about the animals they care for.  Lots of questions were asked and they were able to answer them with confidence.

All Marin County elementary schools have the opportunity to participate in an essay contest and a poster contest.  Cash prizes and ribbons are awarded at the event.

Bryce walked down to see if his school received a prize.

Second place for the poster his school created.  There are five K through 1 students at Bryce's one-room school, so each grade was responsible for one section of the poster.

 Northbay Dairy Women had a booth with the help of current Dairy Princess, Emile Strand. 

  

There are many hands-on booths the kids can participate in....here they are planting pumpkin seeds to take home.

Looming {is that a word?}demonstrations were happening as well.

Clo the Cow of Clover Stornetta made an appearance.  Paige and her cousin, Leila  followed Clo around for a while.

Our friend, Willy, gave roping demonstrations and taught kids how to handle a rope with the Novato Horsemen group.

The sheep belong to the Pozzi family, who are M.C. Farm Bureau board members and were a big hit.

And sometimes some of the most educational demonstrations take place at the end of an event, when only a few attendees remain.  Bunny breeding session....that's all I'm sayin'. 

Farm Friend Friday Following at http://www.verdefarm.com/

I love to hear from you! To leave a comment, click on the “Post a Comment” link below. Have a peaceful day.

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Bryce's Experience at 4H Presentation Day 2011

After a late night on Friday night at the MCFB Dinner, I had to somehow get both Bryce and Paige up early the next morning, feed them a good breakfast, have Bryce dress in his whites and ready for 4H Presentation day at 8:30 a.m.

We made it.....and with very little complaining, and if you're a mom, you know this makes things go so much more smoothly in the mornings.

One of Bryce's projects in 4H is Photography 101.  The group of six came up with a Photography Presentation for Presentation Day.  Bryce and his cousin, Morgan, were the only two out of the group that were able to make it to Presentation Day to give the presentation.

Bryce is giving his presentation on 'parts of the camera' to the judges, while Morgan awaits her turn to give her portion of the presentation.

The both did really well.

Morgan had a number of Presentations for the day.  Here she's demonstrating how she has trained her puppy, Buddy. This was the first time Buddy was put into an environment with so many people AND be asked to concentrate and listen to his owner at the same time.  Morgan and Buddy did great!

There were some really cool displays that I saw.  Here's one on how to make a duct tape wallet. 

I had never heard of such a thing and neither had Bryce.  He wants to make one now.  And who knew duct tape came in SO many colors??!!

Had to take a photo of the Steps, just in case I wouldn't be able to find them by googling it.

Favorite Foods is always displayed on Presentation Day and here are some of the displays...

Pear Mice.

Reindeer Cupcakes that our good friend, Logan baked and decorated.

Peanut Butter Mice...how cute are they?!

After a few hours, all the presentations were complete and it was time for the Award Ceremony.  Bryce was excited and proud to receive a 'gold' for his portion of his and Morgan's presentation.  Morgan also received 'golds' for all of her presentations she presented.

I know you've heard me say this in the past, but again, I can't say enough about the 4H program.  I've seen my niece, Morgan, go from a shy little girl to a confident young lady who doesn't even bat an eyelash at giving a presentation in front of a group now.  The 4H program has definitely been a huge factor in her level of confidence.

In August, Paige will be 5 and able to be involved in 4H herself.  She's so ready.

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