Homeschool Wrap Up Week 4

County Fair Week!!

We took the whole week off of school.  We did have a lot of learning and teaching opportunities during the week.


Monday 

In the morning we went to the fair grounds and set up our fair booth.  We also took rabbits in the morning.  Nick wanted to trim his rabbits toe nails and wanted our Ag agent to show him the best way to do it.

Later that evening when Art made it home from work, we loaded up goats and chickens to take them up to the fair.  The trailer still needs some sanding and painting but we were able to use it.

Tuesday morning we entered all of the exhibits.  We fed and watered animals and exercised goats.  We went home for a little while in the afternoon and that evening I headed back with Christian to feed and water.  We watched some of the sheep show and then I took Christian to soccer practice.

Wednesday was our longest day at the fair.  We had to be there by nine to feed and water and for Christian to fix one of his LEGO exhibits before the judging.  I left all of the children except for Anthony at the fair with Chelsea to take care of the animal chores while Anthony and I went to the 4 H office to help pack goodie bags for the 400 + teachers and students that were coming through the fair on Thursday and Friday.  We went back and picked them up and went to the pizza place for lunch.

Then headed back to wash goats for the show.  Also the rabbit and chicken judging was going on.  Nick and one of his friends helped the judge by putting rabbits in and out of the cages and I helped by putting all of the ribbons on the cages.  We learned a lot from the judge.  He taught the children what kinds of things they look for in rabbits at a show.  We also learned that one of our Netherland Dwarves is not a Netherland Dwarf :(  (don't trust animal people unless its someone you know or recommended by someone you know)

Nick won 1st and 1st with his Dwarves.  And 4th with his mini lop.

Lily and Anthony won 1st on their chickens and Emmie won 2nd on hers.

The judging on the booths and the exhibits were also finished.  I did not get photos of everything.

The booth won 1st.

Nick entered a robot 1st, a cross 1st , some beads 2nd, a puzzle 1st, and a LEGO set 1st.

Alex entered a bat house 1st, deer string art 1st, a LEGO set 1st,another LEGO set 1st, and  a candle 1st.

Anthony entered a LEGO set 1st, a robot 1st, a wooden toy 1st, a wooden motorcycle 1st, and color changing crystal 2nd.

Christian entered a bat house 1st, LEGO police station 1st, custom made LEGO camper 1st, cardboard car 3rd, 3 photographs 1st, 1st, 2nd, and some chocolate chip brownies 1st.

Lily entered her rag quilt 2nd, pillowcase 2nd, Starry Night painting 1st, candle 2nd, cross 1st, and crinkle cookies 1st.

Emmie entered a potholder 2nd, Starry Night painting 1st, Water Lily painting 2nd, candle 2nd, cross 1st, and 2 photographs 1st and 2nd.

All of the children entered one jar of jam and one jar of jelly.  Most of those got 1st and a few got 2nd.

That night was the goat show.  We had all 4 goats at the fair.  The boys showed in showmanship and then each goat showed in commercial and market in their weight classes.  Christian won 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd.  Alex won 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 3rd.

We got finished a little after 8. Emmie said Mom can we go for ice cream?  We hadn't even had supper yet!  So we got some milkshakes and chicken strip sandwiches from Sonic.

Thursday we had to be back up there by 8.  We had to feed and water and get set up for the first day of school groups.  We taught chickens and rabbits.  There was around 200 children.  We made it home for about an hour before I had to head out with Emmie for ballet.  She enjoyed it.  I cancelled piano because Lily had not been home to practice at all.  Christian had soccer that night so Art and Christian went back up to feed and water.

Friday morning we were back for the other half of the school groups.  After lunch some of the children participated in the Livestock Skillathon.  We made it home late afternoon and Nick and Alex went back to feed and water.

Emmie made a new friend they spent most of the week together

Saturday morning was the Livestock Auction.  Where we live, you don't actually sell the animal (a lot of places do.)  What they do is "auction" the animal and local businesses bid on them.  The child still keeps the animal but the money donated helps them in their projects.  Livestock projects are not cheap and every bit of money helps!

Our animals were released at 4 and we got them home and settled back in (we came home with a new male and female mini rex rabbit.)

Sunday after church we headed back to take down the booth and pick up our entries and just like that the County Fair was over!

Back to school next week!

I hope you had a good week!

Happy Homeschooling!