My FAIR lady!

I'm sure most of you have heard the fair results already, but I just have to brag for a little while. My kids rock! They did awesome at the Douglas County Fair and I'm so very proud. How do you make your daddy cry? Bring home the Overall Grand Champion hog. And that's exactly what Tracy did this year. That's kind of a big deal in the "rural" community.

But that wasn't all! In total, Tracy secured 6 championship ribbons, a handful of purples and blues, and one red. Travis, well, he brought home 3 Reserve Champion ribbons, a fist full of purples and blues, and one red. But here's the rub...the Reserve Champion ribbons are pink...Champion ribbons are purple. So Tracy is jealous because her ribbons weren't PINK...and Travis is miffed because in scores, Tracy totally womped all over him! But he's ready to pull a Michael Phelps at the fair next year so watch out!

I'll spare you the gory details but I did have a 10 minute moment on the local radio station visiting with the British reporter. Loved it! I wowed him with my knowledge of pork and rising costs of farming. If I can get a hold on an audio clip I'll post it for your enjoyment.

Enjoy the pics and here's to another excruciatingly exhausting 4H year!


Redneck and proud of it! (note the gray in the stache!)


What little boys look like at a demolition derby....

You can't see it here...but that black car has "Neis Bros. Farms" painted on it...talk about some niche advertising!


A moment of silence please for Joe. May he rest in pieces....of BACON!

A night at Great Wolf Lodge, a well-deserved reward for a great week at fair!


Katelyn, the Californian rabbit, living up to her Championship status....she also won best in fur class for normal white fur.


What a sweetie! The rabbit's pretty cool too.


Showing off rabbit showmanship skills. It's a lot more difficult than you think. Tracy won champion in her age class.


Travis and his buddy Jazz waiting to go in the show ring.


Are we about done yet?


Daddy helping get ready for the pig show.


Brett watching from the best vantage point. Note: Brett will be in 4H this coming year. Someone get me some Valium.


Overall Grand Champion market hog. Note: picture is shaky because I was so excited...and daddy couldn't take the pic because he was teary. (But don't tell anyone I told you so.)


Frankie needs water.


"You did a great job Kate-Kate!"


Tracy's champion cake decorating. We now refer to her as "Top Chef".


Such a domestic one. She wins champion on low-acid vegetable preservations...beets.


Travis's Reserve Champion model rocket....replica of the US Bull Pup.


A severely proud moment for artist mommy: Travis's Reserve Champion award for scratchboard illustration. *sniff*



Photo manipulation...another of mommy's prides. Travis wins Reserve Champion for manipulating a photo he took at our Lebo cow pasture.

QUESTION: Have I recuperated from 4h 2007?
ANSWER: Yes. (But it took 3 weeks to wake up.)