Fair Time 2009

Our county fair was the last week of August. It was finally time to take Phineas! Ferb was actually a little bit bigger and had a longer frame, but Phineas was the nicer one and easier to handle. We got his stall prepared Monday night. On Tuesday, we took Phineas in, and got him weighed and washed. Wednesday morning was the swine shows. Ammon was nervous because this was his first time time showing, but he did so well! We were so proud of him! He got a blue ribbon in Showmanship, and a blue ribbon in Quality.
For weeks prior to the fair, he thought about and worried over what he was going to wear. He's never put in so much time on an outfit in his life! He wanted to wear something nice, dress according to the showman standards, and look good too. The "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" campaign encouraged the youth to wear pink, which Ammon did--in his pretty pink belt! He also got new black boots and new jeans to wear. Grandpa Tolman gave him one of his older cowboy hats, and Ammon picked out a dress shirt that he thought coordinated well. He was a sharp-looking cowboy! And mighty cute, too!!!

Wednesday night was Family Fun Night, and the boys loved climbing over the large inflatable toys, Jonah and Micah enjoyed a petting zoo, and Ammon was thrilled that he got to shoot a gun. On Thursday, I took the boys to exercise the pig, and while we were there, they went on some of the rides. Ammon and Micah really liked the rides, but Jonah was brave enough to only go on one, during which he wailed the whole ride!

Kanyon's favorite part of the fair was seeing all the different animals! He loved poking the chickens and rabbits, climbing on the cow and sheep stalls, playing with the pigs, and petting the horses.

On Friday evening, we gave Phineas a bath again, and took the boys around the fair. We ate cotton candy, watched Kanyon scream on one ride he insisted going on, walked through all the buildings and booths, and had a great time as a family!

Saturday morning was the Livestock Sale. It was long and hot, so thank goodness for this:A few businesses and families sponsored some sandboxes for kids to play in right next to the sale. Jonah, Micah, and Kanyon all played in it with so many other kids. What a great idea!!! Ammon sold Phineas to the Tolman Ranch and Dairy for $2.55 a pound, which was above average! We are so thankful to our Stake President Beyeler for bidding on the pig and upping its price, and for Grandma and Grandpa who purchased it! Saturday night we cleaned out the stall and said our final farewells to Phineas. It was a long week and were happy to see the end of it! The fairgrounds are 15 miles away, and we had to go there at least twice each day to feed Phineas, clean out his stall, and exercise or wash him! But it was also a good experience, and Ammon looks forward to doing it all again next year!