Sisters clubs do well at county fair

Two local 4-H livestock clubs and a sewing club fielded nearly 50 entries at the Deschutes County Fair, held last week in Redmond. Sisters young people entered sheep, swine, goats and sewing projects in the fair.

Cloverdale Livestock Club has 29 members, many from Sisters, with the rest living in Redmond. Leader Pam Mitchell, who has headed the club for 18 years, said the club is the largest it's ever been during her time as leader.

This club focuses on sheep, with members entering in showmanship (required for all 4-H animal handlers), production, and market classes. Members did really well in their showing, said Mitchell, with all being awarded either blue or red ribbons. Several were awarded championship ribbons (see Fair Highlights, page 30).

Showmanship judges the handler's ability to present the animal to its best advantage. Production classes are for breeding animals and gauge potential for producing superior offspring. Market class is for animals destined for the consumer's table.

Market animals from sheep, swine, goats and beef exhibitors were auctioned on Saturday. The dollars received, usually much more than the open market offers, offset somewhat the trauma of parting with animals that have become buddies during the course of caring for them.

The responsibility of that care and dealing with the reality of market day are all part of what 4-H instills in its members. Mitchell feels that one of the nicest rewards of 4-H leadership is watching the kids grow up and seeing them work with their animals.

Cassidy Keeton, in his fourth year of showing sheep, said, "My favorite thing about fair is the showing and the money from my market lamb."

His cousin, Cruz, added, "The best thing is getting responsibility and learning how to train my sheep. The competition in the ring is fun, too."

Over in the swine barn, Sisters "Outlawed Livestock" members were busy with their team of happy pigs. The club currently has 21 members, with 19 pigs and two goats coming to fair.

In swine competition, the exhibitors also do showmanship, production and market classes. These classes can be entertaining for spectators as the pigs are shown unrestrained, controlled by a cane that the handler uses to direct the animal's movements.

Pigs, being the free spirits that they are, sometimes have their own agenda. This can test a handler's poise as she brings the animal back under control.

Club members did very well, according to Outlawed Livestock leader Karen Fenty. The majority of ribbons won were blues, with several call-backs to championship classes.

Meghan Crowder, a Sisters Middle School student, showed her pig, Laverne, in the market class. While admitting to being a bit sad at saying good-bye, Crowder is realistic about it.

"It's just what you do," she said with a shrug.

Crowder had a busy fair this year, showing her horse the previous weekend and entering several sewing projects. She modeled one of those projects, coming away with a reserve champion ribbon for her efforts.

"I like modeling my own clothes," she said.

The sewing club, Creative Needles, is led by Ginger Offield. She said that the six members, none of whom had ever sat in front of a sewing machine before starting their projects, all received blue ribbons for their entries.

The two Outlawed Livestock members showing goats, Emily Rickards and Monica Offield, spent their time between the dairy barn where their goats were housed and the swine barn, socializing with the rest of the club. They are hopeful that a few more members will show goats next year.

A major accomplishment for the Sisters 4-H clubs was in the livestock judging arena. Members can elect to enter this contest, where they judge market animals in beef, swine, and sheep.

The four highest scoring individuals in intermediate and senior divisions qualify for state fair and will compete there as a team representing their county.