They were without a doubt.... Team players, fun, honest, compassionate, helpful, gracious, friendly, hardworking, etc.
Like I said previously, the Healdsburg Future Farmer Country Fair is small. But it is also the type of warm, friendly and fun environment that every kid needs to show at. Yes, people are competitive and yes there is occasionally some drama (wouldn't be a fair without it) but mostly the kids, leaders and fair board ROCK.
Kids worked hard, showed up on time and worked together to make sure everyone was successful. I always feel like there a few kids, no matter the chapter, that check out or have attitude or just aren't helpful but fortunately, for me and them, we didn't have any of that crap. Ain't nobody go time for that! LOL
Not to toot my own horn but I was commended countless times for the higher quality animals, proper behavior of kids and helpfulness of exhibitors. And while I'm not a big fan of compliments-- they make me feel weird, funny and awkward-- I was so proud of the positive compliments about the kids and their progress from previous years. I had heard a lot prior to fair "well the FFA kids..." this and "the FFA kids" that... Mostly negative things about incidents in the past like lack of care, concern and work from the FFA kids. I'm so proud of my kids for putting in the time this year to change that perception of the chapter.
As a whole, it was an extremely successful fair! But this little fair is more than just showing an animal. Students participate in the pen set up, town parade and float, wine barrel planting, animals, selling fundraiser tickets, barn duty (that was new for them), educational displays, running during the auction, decorations, helping others with weigh-in, a wine barrel planter and cake auction, and clean up the day after. And my kids were troopers!
My favorite part of any fair is always the auction. This community is soooooo supportive of the 4-H and FFA kids it is redonkulous! The amount of money people spend is cause for most to have their heads checked. I'm not sure we had a pig go for less than $10 a pound or a lamb for less than $12 a pound. It's crazy and awesome! At the end of the auction on Saturday night, they auctioned off a hog (one of ours- yay!) to donate the money to one of the fair board members battling cancer-- $38 a pound! This is the type of community, program, fair and FFA chapter that I want to be part of for many years. It is so nice for the community to recognize the work and importance of agriculture for young kids.
The most bittersweet moment was after the auction when I had kids stay to take down all our displays, flowers, etc and clean the barns. The amount of kids sitting with their animals and crying was nuts. Now-- I've never cried over selling an animal but I do recognize how hard it is for some kids. And girls cry because, well they are high school girls. But the boys?! These big, strong, tough, badass boys laying with their animals bawling was tough. All the kids showed so much compassion and care for each other, it completely melted my heart. I'm so glad that they feel so invested and connected with their animals that it upsets them when they are gone. It means they care... Which means I've done my job.
"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." Henry Ford
All my kids before awards... They clean up pretty nice