Meridian Jacobs

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State Fair

Robin
The CA State Fair was at the end of July but I was too busy with back-to-back events to post about it. Now we'll go back in time to the fair. Of course, entering the fair is about showing sheep. But for me an important element is the display and the Marketing Award. A lot of effort goes into that from me and from Farm Club members. IMG_8882 We've been using the old tin backdrop for a long time and I still really like the look. It worked especially well with the natural dye display we made this year. There are also signs about Farm Club, examples of yarn and wool on the table, and a continuous loop of about 45 minutes of my farm videos. The Touching Table is popular with fair-goers. IMG_8885There are more signs over the sheep pens. My potted plants were dug out of the pasture and include a sign about what is in the bucket.

There is always someone demonstrating at the booth. I was glad that I brought my loom this year. It drew a lot of interest and I wove six scarves while I was there.

Speaking of weaving, this is Lucien, who was with the Eureka! Mohair Farm across the aisle from us. He was interested in weaving so I brought the Cricket loom for him to use. I forgot the warping peg, but notice that we found something to use instead. By the next day Lucien had woven off this scarf using a clasped weft technique for his first piece! Yarns in his scarf and mine are locally grown Anderson Ranch yarn and my handspun.

IMG_8913Here is closeup of some of the yarns on display. Farm Club member, Lisa, dyed most of these.IMG_8959 One of the kids' activities we provide is this sheet for drawing in details on the sheep. Not everyone takes them home.IMG_8919We are also here for the sheep show. Fortunately Jacob sheep don't require a lot of fitting, but it is nice to get them cleaned up a bit.IMG_8957The horns looked pretty good after a scrubbing. This is a ram lamb named Axle.IMG_8961This is Jana on the right and a less-glad-to-be-there Halcyon. image1-2-2The Primitive Breeds show was Saturday afternoon. This is a yearling ram, Meridian Gotham. (Look at those shiny horns.)image3-3Unfortunately there was very little competition this year and I had the only rams. So it's nice to get a Champion award, but it would have been nice to have other breeders' sheep there. image2-3Marina and Betsy helped show. This is the ram lamb class.image2-2Meridian Maybelline was awarded Champion Ewe.image3-2Thanks so much to Betsy and Marina for pitching in and showing sheep. And thanks to Dona for the photos.IMG_8932 Here we are with a pile of awards, including Premier Breeder and Premier Sire.IMG_8929

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image8Winning Champion, even with little competition, means that you take your sheep into the ring on Sunday for the Supreme Champion competition. No, Gotham didn't shrunk overnight. He was the same size as always. It's just that those Suffolks are like ponies.image1 This is the Supreme Champion Ewe competition. IMG_8982In between the Supreme Champion Ram and Supreme Champion Ewe competitions they announce the Marketing Award winners. We did pretty well!IMG_8978 Best Marketing Program. Best Program Directed at the Public. Best Signage. 1st place Herdsman. 1st Place Educational Program. 2nd Place Educational Program over all the livestock species during the three weeks of the fair. Can't ask for more than that!

But there is more! image5-2Loading up in my new trailer! Oregon here we come in 2019!