Valerie and Abel Pors having been raising sheep as part of their 4-H project. They are using Countryside Organics feed. And they have been kind enough to share some of their adventure, and pictures with us. Please support 4H and County Fairs. Come out and bid on these animals. The Pors will be showing their sheep at the Albemarle County Fair, August 2-4 at the Ash Lawn Fairgrounds. The Albemarle County Fair Starts this Thursday. PLEASE SUPPORT 4H AND THE ALBEMARLE COUNTY FAIR!!!
Part VI – August 1, ’12
Shearing is now complete! After hours of snipping away with the hand shears the lambs look very handsome. Next we had to wash them for the show ring. This was almost exactly the same as their previous washing except this time we had to wash their faces. Boy, they didn’t like that. They would somehow think that tilting their heads upward into the water would help the situation, but instead it just got water up their noses! But we got her done without too much drama, and after they were all dried they turned out incredibly white and fluffy. To keep lambs clean in their pen before the show, most people use special lamb blankets which protect their wool. Our improv solution was two old T-shirts. One is worn “normally,” and the other is worn upside down (you know how your kids always like to stick their legs through the armholes?) Complete coverage. Brownie and Chuck look totally ludicrous and we were laughing the whole time we put their new wardrobe on. They actually don’t seem to mind, and it works great.
Brownie’s soremouth seems to be better! The infected area appears to have turned back into somewhat normal skin, a sign that he is no longer contagious. Although we can’t be one hundred percent positive until the vet checks him Thursday at the Albemarle County Fair, most likely he will be able to go. We will be at the fair at Ash Lawn most of the day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (2nd 3rd and 4th), so come meet Brownie and Chuck in person!
Here are some pictures of the lambs freshly washed, shorn and in their “blanket.”
Thanks,
Joyce, Valerie and Abel
Here is the link with the event times for the livestock showing, auctions, 
etc. http://offices.ext.vt.edu/albemarle/programs/4h/2012agshowandsalerules.pdf
Here is more detailed information about the 4-H bidding and auction process:
Our 4-H livestock club is designed to allow kids to learn to raise an animal, while providing a way for the kids to sell the animal if they only wish to keep the animals short-term. The kids will show their animals and be judged at the Albemarle County Fair at Ash Lawn, after which they have the option having the animals auctioned off. The kids invite bidders–anyone that wants to support the 4-H club by bidding on the animals. Not all bidders want to bring an animal home, so they have the option of donating the animals back to the club. Bidders may go to the Buyers and Supporters Reception (luncheon) at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 3rd. Please contact Mrs. Diane Pullaro to get tickets for the reception or more information. Her phone number is 434-295-0762. Her email address is dpull67@centurylink.net. The auction will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the same day. The show times for the market lamb category will be sometime between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
More info about the Albemarle County Fair.
