Six Days

Six days until entry day of the Clayton County Fair.

Guest Writer Today

The following Letter to The Editor was written by a member of the 4H club to which my kiddos belong.  It's great to see a young person take the initiative and express her concerns and ideas.
Thanks Shana!

Many kids show livestock at the county fair every year, whether they show ducks, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, hogs, or cattle.  After showing at the fair, some members choose to sell their animals.  Because 4-H is a program that is here to teach life-skills to the next generation, a lot of livestock exhibitors choose to sell their project animals at the sale the Monday after fair.   Every year a sale is put on by the Clayton County Extension Office and a group of local auction houses.   

The auction is a great way for us to learn how an auction works.  As we raise our market animals, we learn how to feed and care for them.  The reason market animals are raised, of course, is to go to market.  Selling our exhibits at the fair gives us an idea of how an auction really works, and all exhibitors and their families are able to meet with the buyer afterwards. 

Our problem that we face is with the buyers.  The buyers we get, we are very grateful to.  But because our buyers are so few, animals are going for regular market price or below.  Being a showman at the fair myself, it is discouraging and disappointing that my cattle can be sold for such a low price after all the work put into them.  All of the animals at the fair have been custom grown and finished to be shown; this means that very, very, special care has been given to these animals so that they can reach their full potential in both quality and quantity.

Potential buyers in the community believe they face several problems.  Many are afraid to buy an animal because they will not be able to utilize all of the meat.  Simple solutions to this problem have been found.  For the smaller animals (chickens, ducks, and rabbits) the buyer can send the animal home with the exhibitor.  Then their money will be given to the exhibitor who will use those funds for projects for next year or pay off previous animal expenses.  For the larger animals, families have been known to get together and pool their money in one animal.  Two or more families can buy a steer, hog, goat, or sheep, and split the meat. 

There is also the choice to take your animal and re-sell it at a sale barn.  This brings us to another concern .  Transportation.  This one is easy to fix.  Volunteer trailers  take your purchased livestock to the local locker or sale barn of your choice.  There they will be processed or re-sold.

Help us encourage our local youth to stay involved in agriculture.  Let this be a learning experience for both the members of Clayton County 4-H and yourself.  Join us on Monday, August 6^th at 9:00 a.m. for the annual Clayton County Livestock Auction!

9 Days to The Fair!

The count down is on to The County Fair! 

#2 giving Hersey a bath.

#1 feeding his laying hens

Since big brothers are busy with 4H projects #3 decides to get in
the act with his Erector set.

Friday's Favorite Farm Recipe

Spring is here - although I would say about three weeks early - flowers are blooming and the rhubarb is red ripe and ready for picking.  This weeks recipe contributor has a very timely recipe for all that rhubarb.

Linda, our contributor, is a native of Clayton County and a life long 4H'er.  Both Linda and her husband John were 4H'ers, their kids were all 4H'ers (I competed against the five oldest in the beef show ring during my 4H years), and now their grand kids are fourth generation 4H'ers (Yep, my kids compete against them!).  Linda says one of the highlights of working with her grandchildren with 4H fair exhibits is that as first year members they have all made a quilt using her grandmother's quilt blocks.  What a great family tradition and heirloom to carry on!  If I remember correctly, all of Linda's sons also had a sewing projects at The Fair as well.

Linda teaching another generation how to quilt.

Linda and John live on the farm that John's great-grandfather homesteaded in 1855.  They have three sons that farm and their grandchildren are carrying on that passion for agriculture as well.

Linda and John with their Valley FFA grandkids.

Linda is our county treasurer.  She is planning on retiring at the end of this term.  Her plans for retirement include lots of quilting, doing more 4H judging, catching up on house cleaning and perhaps doing some traveling.

Creamy Rhubarb Dessert

Crust:                                                                                 Rhubarb Layer:

1/2 cup cold butter                                                             4 cups sliced rhubarb

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour                                               1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans                                                     2 tbsp all purpose flour

Cheesecake Layer:                                                              Topping:

2 pkgs (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened                          1 1/2 cups sour cream

1/2 cup sugar                                                                        3 tbsp sugar

1 tsp. vanilla                                                                         1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs                                                                                   additional chopped pecans

In a bowl, cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; stir in pecans.  Press into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350F for 15 minutes.  Combine rhubarb, sugar and flour; spoon over the crust.  Bake for 15 minutes.  In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Pour over hot rhubarb layer.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla; spread over hot cheesecake.  Cook on a wire rack for 1 hour.  Refrigerate overnight.  Sprinkle with additional pecans if desired. 

Sounds good to me!  Thank you Linda for sharing your recipe. 

But, before I sign off I do have to share one more picture.  I finally figured out how the scanner works on my printer so now I'm a scanning maniac.  If you can't read the fine print it's a picture of yours truly with Linda and John's daughter Angie from just a few years ago.   Sorry, Ang, I could not resist.

Daisy's Calf

This morning we woke to a new baby calf!  Daisy, Son #2's cow, had her calf early this morning.  She had a little bull calf (a boy).  After a lot of discussion between the brothers, #2 decided to name him Winter since it is the last day of winter.

Daisy and Winter this morning.

Winter & Daisy this afternoon.

All of the animals on our farm are 4H projects.  Since the boys are the owners they do take pride in their animals and new babies are always exciting.  When #2 did chores last night he reported that Daisy of the cows was starting to act different and she was holding up her tail.  So, we all marched out and  agreed that Daisy was going to deliver soon.  Joe and I visited her around 11 pm and decided that she would deliver in the morning.   The boys were out bright and early this morning to check on Daisy and like #3 said - It's Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday

The clock is ticking.  Only 28 days until county fair entry day.

Kernal is somewhat stubborn

Hot Rod Fireball loves a good bath.