Johnson County Fair & Rodeo

Our week at the fair started last Tuesday with the Sheep Lead.  Nine of Don & Phyllis' Great-Grandchildren participated!  We made wool jumpers for the girls and Joyce made the boys little black vests with the JH brand on them.  The girls' t-shirts had the brand as well.  We made a corral that went around Madison and the sheep, Mary.  The other kids carried the corral and Gio pulled Milan in a wagon.  They did a great job and won "Most representative of the wool industry"!  They were all pleased with their prize of $5 each, a huge sucker, and a pink participant ribbon!

Mary the sheep

Gabi in her wool jumper

Maya's jumper was a bit big, but still pretty cute.

Gabi & Gio with Mary

Off they go!

On their way to model for the judges!

On their way back

Don & Phyllis with their sheep leaders!

 The girls had a fun time watching a few shows, the parade on Saturday, and the rodeos.


Maya watching the beef show with Papa Don

Maya watching the parade and gathering lots of candy

 Each of the girls entered quite a few items in the fair.  They made cookies with Grammy Joyce, made arrangements with flowers from the garden, selected marigolds and zinnias.  They each entered a painting and peas from the garden.  Gabi also entered the Heaviest Zucchini contest and won a purple ribbon!

Gabi's big blue fish finger painting won a blue ribbon

Maya's watercolor painting (that she spent an hour on one morning this summer) also won a blue ribbon!

Gabi's giant zucchini!

 Maya took home quite a haul of ribbons!  She won Grand Champion for her sugar snap peas!  She won reserve for her peanut butter cookies and another for her flower arrangement!

Notice Joyce won Reserve Champion for the Adult class too!!

Below is the poem that Phyllis wrote for the Sheep Lead.  The announcer read it as the kiddos were walking out with Mary and modeling their outfits.

Hall Cousins

This herd of cousins are styling 100% wool duds

They are friends, playmates, and also great buds

Madison’s leading the sheep named Mary

McGiveny’s said “Go steady – do not tarry”

Madison’s skirt is purple, with a plaid band

And everyone here has a big JH brand

Ella, Kate, Gabi, Maya, and Milan – all the gals

Wear their plaid jumpers – they are all special pals

The boys in this group are Gio, Marco and Jay

They are sporting black vests on this special Tuesday

The vests are all wool – don’t they really look spiffy

Will they wear them all day? – That would really be “iffy”

All the clothes from wool cloth were made by a Grammy and the mothers

And the corral for the sheep was made by some others

They figured with this many kids – just perhaps

The sheep needed protection against major mishaps

By the time these kids enter 4H or FFA

The ranks will be bigger in a very good way

They are all a bit small, but they like this style show

When they get older they will all be “in the know”

These descendents of the Hall’s – ages seven to one

Have good times at the ranch – its hilarious fun

They wear wool for their clothes with JH on their chests

And they are trying real hard to be some of the best.

A special thank you to Ian McGiveney for the use of his Rambouillet Ewe, Joyce Hall for the wool all of the garments were made from, and Phyllis Hall for writing our catchy poem.