Some women in Lakeside had a different twist on Mother’s Day, that’s the day they helped their 4-H and Future Farmers of America kids haul their animals to the East County Jr. Fair held at the Rodeo Grounds. Trucks and trailers with hogs, cattle, goats and sheep lined up to be weighed and checked in for the week long Jr. Fair. Student from El Capitan High School, Lakeside and Mountain Empire School Districts competed.
Some women in Lakeside had a different twist on Mother’s Day, that’s the day they helped their 4-H and Future Farmers of America kids haul their animals to the East County Jr. Fair held at the Rodeo Grounds. Trucks and trailers with hogs, cattle, goats and sheep lined up to be weighed and checked in for the week long Jr. Fair. Student from El Capitan High School, Lakeside and Mountain Empire School Districts competed.
Some families brought their campers and trailers to spend the week in the parking lot so they could be close to their animals and kids because they both have to be cared for, fed and nurtured.
Don Hickle, a long time parent volunteer, was the “Weigh Master” for pigs. He said that more than 200 pigs were in the fair and 166 went to auction held on Saturday, May 11. “It was very successful, the kids were supported in many ways and they got good prices for their animals at the auction,” he said.
Judging rabbits and chickens on Monday, judges evaluated students on their showmanship in handling their small animals. Tuesday—market class and showmanship for pigs, Wednesday and Thursday, judging for sheep, goats and big beef.
Besides the animals, home arts was very popular with students as well, sewing, floral arrangements, photography, clothing design and oat hay were judged.
Kathy Quick, works at Carters Feed and a volunteer for many years, said that the kids were great and put in a lot of extra effort that she had not seen in many years. She mentioned that Scott Nelson, had taken a tremendous step by adding ice cream cone sales to the “Candy Shack”. Ice cream sales were 400 to 500 cones a day for a dollar each that went to the Youth Investment Scholarships Fund.
Sales at the kitchen were up too, thanks to Sam Walker, former Agriculture teacher, and his crew. Slacker sandwiches of sausage and ham were a big hit with the kids and their families. They sold 200-300 a day and the Friday night steak dinner was a crowd pleaser. All proceeds go toward East County Jr. Fair youth activities.
