Since a few of my faraway family and friends like to keep up with what happens in my little family, I decided it's time to post some pictures to recap what we've been up to during the past year. Most of these pics have already been posted on Instagram or Facebook, but you're welcome to stay a while and scroll through the silliness.
This year, the Desoto County 4-H Club has kept us hopping, and we've loved E.V.E.R.Y. second of it. We started the 4-H year with shooting sports in the Spring. Then, Drew completed the Poultry Chain project sponsored by Mississippi State. Right now, Drew and Aubrey are beginning to study pig and goat anatomy to prepare for Livestock Judging competition in January; they will be judged on their abilities to judge livestock. They're also learning public speaking, working with a team, improving study and research skills, increasing their vocabulary, improving their memorization skills, learning how to state and defend positions in debates/arguments, and SO. MUCH. MORE. We LOVE us some 4-H, y'all.
Aubrey shot targets with her pink Daisy BB gun. Her age group isn't allowed to use real ammunition, thanks be to God.
Competition was in Charleston on the day before she turned 10. Baby girl placed 5th!
Drew had to learn to shoot his .22 in three different positions: standing, kneeling, and prone (on his belly). Our 4-H leaders were so helpful and patient, and they taught both kids so much.
Drew had to wait in line for almost 3 hours to be able to compete because SO many people competed with .22 rifles. Aubrey wandered around in the mud and grass while we waited. And waited. And waited.
Drew placed 6th in his division. Don't you love his camo gun case and Duck Commander t-shirt?
Twenty barred Plymouth Rock chicks were delivered to our house only days before the district shooting competition. They lived IN MY ROOM for two weeks before they moved TO THE PLAYROOM. We sorta jumped into the Poultry Chain project before we "counted the cost."
Twenty chicks survived until Memorial Day. We left them on the front porch one afternoon for some fresh air, and we think six of them were --literally--scared to death by a stray cat that wandered up to our house that day. Poor chickies.
Our 4-H Extension Agent Jessica showed Aubrey how to put metal identification bands on the chicks' wings.
Jessica offered to let me try, but the thought, sound, and feel of the metal piercing the web under the chick's wing made me queasy. I opted to photograph the moment instead.
Once the chicks were out of the brooding phase, Drew and his cousins moved the birds to their new home in Poppy and Nanny's coop (which is just down the driveway from us).
They grew quite a bit in just a little more than a month.
Drew and Joey hauling stuff
Chicks with chicks
Can you believe how much they grew from June to September????
The chickens had to be bathed before the county chicken show in September. It took a village.
Most of the birds relaxed and napped when we dried their feathers with the blow dryer.
Drew showed the "girls" at the Desoto/Tate County Poultry Show.
Drew was a little offended that the elderly judge grabbed the chickens by the legs and held them upside down.
He won 1st Place in the Jr. Division Meat Chickens for Desoto County and tied for Best Overall Meat Chickens among the Desoto and Tate County competitors. This meant he qualified to show his birds at the state poultry show.
Drew competed against 20-25 other kids in his division.
Not everyone walked away with one of these. You wouldn't BELIEVE how intense some of the parents of the competitors were. You'd almost think it was a toddler beauty pageant..
Aubrey had a great time looking around while her brother waited for judging.
See what those judges did? They grabbed those poor girls by the legs and held them upside down.
Drew had to wait nearly an hour for his turn to speak with the judges and answer any questions they had about his experience in the poultry project.
That is a picture of MY BOY receiving a 5th place trophy and a check for $100. We're so proud of his hard work.
After the award ceremony, his birds were sold at an auction for $100. Next year, he wants to try to win the Grand Champion Jr. Meat Division Trophy and the $1,000 prize.
On November 1, one of the chickens presented us with our very first egg. I'm almost embarrassed about all the whooping and dancing that went on.... Almost.
Now that he knows a thing or two about poultry, Drew is moving on to swine. No, we're not raising a hog; he's just learning all about what makes a pig good for the market or good for breeding. Aubrey decided she wants to focus on goats. I'll let you know how they do with their livestock judging next year.
One last thing: just in case one of you dear readers has a child who would possibly like to try out some 4-H activities, let me assure you that 4-H is more than a group that raises and judges animals. It offers opportunities for kids to learn about and participate in things like engineering, robotics, interior design, computer science, photography, fashion design, modeling, etiquette, cooking, sewing, crafting, leadership, gardening/horticulture, entomology, ATV riding and safety, and on and on and on....
And in case you DON'T have a child who would like to investigate 4-H, thanks for stopping by!
