For several weeks we have been talking about getting our homes, barns, pens, etc. ready for our new babies/furbabies. In keeping with this framework, this week we are going to look at some events that will be coming up this summer that you might want to keep in mind.
Summertime...
I love summertime more than anything else in the world. That is the only thing that gets me through the winter, knowing that summer is going to be there. — Jack McBrayer
Oh, how so many of us love summertime. The sights, the sounds, the smells of summer!
One of the many joys of summer for a lot of people is the county fair.
The county fair means carnival rides, exhibits, seeing the 4-H animals, meeting with friends for a footlong hotdog...
It means fun times. It means "summertime!"
I remember the days of my youth. We would go as a family to the fair and admire the well-kept animals while avoiding their "waste products." My mom would ask the 4-H kids all kinds of questions about their animals. Later in life, I asked my own questions of the 4-Hers as I had become a reporter for a small-town newspaper.
The county fair was like the definition of summer. The epitome of growth and life.
Getting ready for the fair
I was in 4-H for about one whole meeting! It was not an activity for me. But I spent a lot of time watching my sister get ready for the fair. Now, I watch my grandchildren and see the excitement in their eyes and on their faces as they groom their animals, put the finishing touches on their projects, and get ready for the fun of fair time.
The county fair was greatly impacted by the emergence of COVID-19 resulting in many county fairs and state fairs being canceled in 2020. Most fairs were back on in 2021, however, some were at a limited capacity.
While COVID-19 may not be blocking the fairs from happening this summer, other animal diseases may limit the types of animals that are on show at the fair. You can read more about the avian flu here.
Still, the kids are getting their chickens, ducks, geese, bunnies, calves and other animals ready for the fair in the hope that things will be better by June/July/August when many of the fairs take place.
Protecting your prize show animals
Keeping your animals safe and healthy is a chief concern for 4-H kids and for others who show their animals at the fair in the open classes.
It is one thing to keep your pens and barn clean at home. But when you put your animals in a confined space next to other people's animals there is always a risk.
We have some excellent articles on keeping your animals' pens at their best with Vital Oxide and BioProtect which is part of the 2-step process. You can read those articles at the following links:
Why not give your animals at the fair and everywhere else, the protection they need and deserve?
Let's keep the summer strong and the county fair a great place for kids and adults to have a wonderful time!
You can also check out this article for more information about Vital Oxide and its many uses not only on the farm or in the barn, but in your home, as well!
Questions?
Do you have more questions? Find an agent near you who will be happy to assist you.