The pride of a purple ribbon

by KATHY PIERCE

REPORTER STAFF WRITER

The Boone County Fair has come to a close. Livestock have been loaded into trailers, pens cleaned and projects boxed up. Down the road, all that will be left are memories . . .  and a collection of hard-earned ribbons. 

Anyone who has been involved in the county fair as a youth remembers their first year - the tension and intimidation of going before the judge, followed by the excitement of being presented your first ribbon. No matter the color, you proudly put it on display near your project. Fair time is just the culmination of  a whole year’s effort. That pie on display in the fair booth may have been baked early that morning. But what you do not comprehend until reading through the write-up is the number of earlier attempts, many failed, in developing the final product. You document the afternoons spent at grandma’s house learning the art of pie-crust making. The end product may not have turned out perfect, but it was supposed to be a learning process. And of utmost importance to the judge: “Did you meet your goals?”

A ribbon posted up in the livestock barn often represents a huge commitment, not only of time, but of money as well. In addition to the initial animal expense are feed and bedding costs, sometimes veterinary bills. There is no slacking off for the 4-Her. Chores are daily. Calves need broke for leading. Sheep need sheared. All in preparation for a few minutes in the show ring. Then, if you are lucky, you are invited back to the ring for the championship class.

Youth showing small animals take just as much pride in their projects. What determines a championship rabbit, duck, chicken? Just ask the 4-Her and he/she will be happy to explain.

Five days each year the fairgrounds bustle with activity beginning with livestock weigh-in and project check-in at the Community Building. Livestock shows daily produce a continuous parade of animals and harried youth between the barns and the show ring. Daily horse shows keep riders on the go back and forth to the arena at the east end of the grounds.

Approximately 770 total animals were expected at the 2014 Boone County Fair July 17-20: 81 beef projects; 161 sheep; 115 hogs; 72 horse projects; 31 dogs, 7 cats, 133 rabbits, 239 poultry; 9 small pets; 51 goats; and 4 dairy cows. (But no partridge in a pear tree.) 

Of the 862 Family and Consumer Science and Special Interest exhibits on display, 51 were selected for the Iowa State Fair. More fair photos and results are published inside.