Spokane Jr Livestock Show, Prom, Foaling, Getting water running, oh boy what a week.

Monday night the boys packed up to go to Spokane Jr Livestock show the following morning. Toni and I checked. We all did our normal chores. I took some videos of MC’s foals to make a short video. Kade and Toni went for a late ride. Monday was the calm before the storm.

Tuesday mid morning, after we got everything fed and finished packing up the last few things, Kaine, Kade and I headed to Spokane with 3 steers and 2 heifers. We caravaned with three axle gooseneck we met on the highway right out of Connell from Nebraska. He did not get off at the Jr show with us and continued on, probably back to Nebraska. Luis and Aram were already there with their pigs, they helped us get the trailer unloaded. The rest of Footloose 4H got there and we got all set up and got ready to show Wednesday. Both the heifers have been to shows before, so they were fine. The three steers we were a bit nervous about, but the boys had worked on them just enough for the steers to do really pretty well. When we were in line for weigh in, another kid’s steer kicked the back gate, which proceeded to hit one of the volunteers, Jeff, but his cheek open, so weigh in had to be delayed, but everything got weighed in. With the whole 4-H group and our 2 FFA kids the Connell group had 13 head in the beef barn out of the 187 entries. There was also a large contingent of Connell kids in the pig barn thanks to Mr. Palmer, one of our great FFA advisors. Toni had court on Tuesday, so she went home and did our chores, so the men and Jaxsen had one less day they had to cover chores for us, and check the horses.

Got up Wednesday, the heifers showed first, both Baby Jewel and Penelope won their class and made it back to the championship round. Baby Jewel was Reserve champion 4H heifer and Penelope was 5^th overall. We did not take any prospects so did not show again until market. Leslie and Traci kids had prospects and Ady was in the top 5. Two of the steers we got from Ohio won their class and made it back to the championship round. Kade’s Angus steer was 2^nd in class, and 16^th overall, Kaine’s club steer was 2^nd in his class and 13^th overall. Kade’s club steer was 4^th in class. Everyone had a great day. McCall, Terry and Erina all came up and watched the kids show. The weather was super good, everyone was in good spirits and the boys had lots of friends to hang out with.

Thursday started with PeeWee, the steer Kayla normally shows was not great the day before, so she showed Baby Jewel, who was a rockstar. Savannah showed Natalie’s steer, and he was good, but not as good as Baby Jewel. Kayla told Kaine she got Baby Jewel warmed up so she got half of whatever he won in showmanship, she was hoping for a buckle, but he got reserve, so I guess she will have to share a large vest. Kayla is 6 so is will probably be dress like on her. Kaine was reserve champion Sr showman and Kade made it back to the final round. JuJu was 3^rd overall and Natalie was 5^th overall in Jrs. The boys all went and got milk shakes since they did a good job.

Friday Kaine and Kade participated in FFA Ag Sales. This was Kaine’s first ag sales competition with the team, and we hear he did really well. Connell as a team was the top team. There are four members on the team and they are getting ready to go to State FFA next week. Aram held Kaine’s steer in livestock judging. Toni told him he could be a holder or livestock judge. He chose to be a holder which she felt was the wrong decision, but it was the decision he made. Anna came up and hung out with us. Terry and Erina came back to see Anna and hang out with us. And we had time to socialize and catch up with our show families. We have lots and lots of friends at the Spokane Jr. Show. Dad texted that one of the mares foaled, it was Bayley with a mini me filly by Sagebug. Dad and Mom both insisted that the mare that foaled was brown and named Mud, a different mare. But it was clear in the picture it was Bayley, who is a smutty buckskin.

Saturday was the livestock sale. The kids all did great. Thank you to everyone that supports the Jr Livestock show. Kaine helped clean up and then came home to go to prom with Jaycee. Jeana was in charge of pictures since I was still at Jr Show and Ben was working. Dad went to Connell and picked up the flowers. All our steers were loaded out on Saturday night. Terry and Erina came back to watch the sale and we had Tomato Street for dinner.  The kids went and played laser tag. At home we heard that Gracie foaled and had a pali foal. We also hear that Doll foaled and had a funky colored foal, maybe a filly. Doll had a bay roan colt, which we found out on Sunday.

We came home Sunday. Toni picked up Cammie from Allies on her way home. Kade and I brought the camper.  Because of how the boys had loaded the trailer, the 2 show heifers and Cammie were in the back compartment together. Luckily after the initial interest between the horse and heifers they all settled in for a smooth ride home. After getting home, we went right back to work. Toni had to unload Cammie, fix some panels, check the horses at Mom’s. Once we were all the way unloaded we took off for Circle 5 to see the foals out there. Bayley was her wonderful self, so we just caught her in the pasture and Toni rode on the tailgate of the pickup and we led Bayley to the corral, inoculated her, and put her with Cappy. The little filly is super cute, loves being petted so is probably going to be another favorite. We seem to have no end to the favorites list. After we got done checking everything, we did our normal chores which ended with the end of the day.

We are on the tail end of foaling and couldn’t be happier with the foals we have on the ground. Lots of fun videos of them on TikTok which you can view at @ktranch155