We are thrilled to welcome new customer Jolynn to Swan View Ranch this year! She found us on our website and we are so glad she did. She told us she would be showing at the Park County Fair. We had never been to that fair, so we were excited to check it out.
Jolynn and her Mom came to the ranch and purchased our last two wethers of the season for Jolynn to show at the fair. They told us they lived in Fairplay, but I didn’t realize how far away that was from us as I had only been through there once several years ago.
Jolynn and her mom
Jolynn was a great communicator. She let us know when the fair would be held. It was the day after the Mesa County Fair, which meant that we had a lot to do to get there on time!
We got up early that morning, did the chores, got ready, and headed for Fairplay. What a beautiful trip! We went over Hoosier Pass which was spectacular. I had never been over that Pass before. The elevation was 11,539 feet, so it is almost as high as Loveland Pass.
Hoosier Pass
Entering Fairplay was a delight. We saw this sign and thought it was very unique.
Fairplay sign
We made our way through town and found the fairgrounds. We walked in and saw Jolynn trimming her goat, Rambo (that we called Tobias).
Jolynn trimming Rambo
It was great to see her again. We went into the barn to see her other goat Reaper (that we called Abbott). We could tell that Jolynn had put a great deal of work into her two animals. They both looked wonderful.
Reaper in the barn
We were amazed to see that on her poster located above her animals, she had listed Swan View Ranch as the Breeder. We had never seen that before on any of the posters in any of the fairs, so that was a real treat.
Poster
As we strolled through the barns of animals, we met this young man who owns Yaks. He had shown this one, whom he called Flipper, and was obviously very attached to him. Flipper was a beautiful Yak and was super soft. Not something you see every day so we definitely wanted a picture!
Flipper The Yak
When we entered the building where the goat show was to be held, we were amazed! We had never seen bleachers with backs on them! What a wonderful idea. Just look at these bleachers! You know how they usually are—back-breaking planks that leave you sore for hours. But with these, we were perfectly comfortable all the time we were there watching the end of the sheep show and then all of the goat show!
Bleachers & Show Ring
Park County has done a fabulous job setting up their show ring. The animals enter and exit from one side of the ring. On the other side of the ring is another gate through which the winners exit and pose for pictures.
We love getting pictures after the shows, but usually it is difficult as there is no designated place to do it. This was a much more efficient setup.
Here is Jolynn (on the left) coming in with Reaper. He weighed 83 pounds and looked great in a class that presented stiff competition.
Jolynn & Reaper
Next Jolynn brought Rambo in (on the left). He was a big boy and very muscular, weighing 93 pounds. He took first place in his Market Goat Class.
Jolynn showing Rambo
Winning first place in the Market Goat Class allowed Jolynn and Rambo to be shown in the Championship class where all the first and second place winners have the opportunity to compete for Grand and Reserve Grand Champions.
Jolynn and Rambo took Reserve Grand Champion! Here they are in the winners circle. I don’t know who was more excited—Jolynn, her Mom, or Gerald and me!
Jolynn & Rambo—Reserve Grand Champion
As we left Fairplay and drove on through the gorgeous Colorado landscape, I just felt so lucky to have such great 4-H goat customers. We do so enjoy traveling to see these young people as they do a super job feeding, trimming and showing their animals.
Congratulations to Jolynn. It was very exciting to attend the goat show in a new County and see how they do things. Jolynn and her mom are both delightful people and we are really looking forward to seeing them again next year.
