Preparing for Fair|Packing Lists for Your Show Animals!
School is almost out for us and now it is time to turn our attention to our 4-H season! Fair will be here before we know it! If this is your first year taking an animal to fair I have compiled a packing lists for show animals to make it easier for you. Knowing what to bring to fair is half the battle! My kids raise rabbits, goats, and pigs so that is what I have packing lists for. If this is your first year in 4-H you might like my post:
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Our first year we took a market animal to fair we had no idea what we were doing! Luckily we had taken my daughter’s goat to a festival in May that proved to be a great dry run for fair. I kept my phone handy and jotted down a list of what we needed to pack for fair. Not only do you need to pack for yourself and the kids (if you are staying at the fairgrounds) but you need to pack for your animals as well.
We take rabbits, goats, and pigs to fair so those are what I have lists for. Here are my packing lists for show animals:
*you should label ALL of your belongings so they don’t get put away into someone else’s bucket
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What to bring to fair for your rabbit:
2. enough food for the entire time you’ll be at fair
3. water bottle if not provided by the fair grounds
4. wet wipes for last minute touch ups
5. brush/comb
6. tape (for mini rex rabbits)
7. toenail clippers
8. corn starch/flour to stop bleeding if you cut their nail too deep
9. small blunt tipped scissors in case you need to clean up their bottom at the last minute and have to cut clumps of poop off
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What to bring to fair for your goat:
- your goat
- feed (enough for each day you are there) and hay
- bucket for water
- pan for grain
- bungee cords or rope to tie bucket up so it doesn’t get spilled
- halter
- leash
- show collar
- shampoo/blueing shampoo
- brush
- hoof trimmers
- wet wipes for last minute clean up of ears and tail web
- paper towels
- shovel/stall fork/wheel barrow for cleaning up stall
What to bring to fair for your pig:
- the pig itself!
- feed (enough for each day of the fair)
- a feed trough or pan if not provided by your 4-H club
- cleaning supplies for sprucing up your pig before the show (this can include just some shampoo or a whole bunch of products for shining up your pig)
- a shovel/rake and wheelbarrow for mucking out their pen each day
- clippers if you didn’t clip your pig before fair
- wash cloths
- soft bristle brush for brushing pig down if needed in the show ring
- spray bottle
- muck boots
What to bring for showmanship
- your child (haha just joking)
- show clothes
- shirt: usually long sleeved button up with a collar
- jeans or pants depending on your 4-H requirements
- belt (if you are tucking in your shirt you should have a belt on)
- boots or sturdy shoes
- Hair accessories. If your child has long hair it should be pulled up out of their face for fitting and showing
- an exhibitor number harness like this one:
6. a great attitude!
I highly recommend bringing more than one outfit for fitting and showing. Especially if your child shows their animal more than once. I didn’t think this was necessary if my child just changed out of their clothes as soon as they were done until we had a “situation” last year!
Right before rabbit showing my son decided to trim his rabbits toenails by himself for the first time ever. He had his sister hold the rabbit while he went to work. Not having done this job by himself before he wasn’t as careful as he should have been and trimmed it down too far. The toenail then bled all over my daughters favorite show shirt. And I mean ALL over!
Don’t forget to pack somethings for yourself:
If you are taking a show/market animal to fair for the first time or if you’re a pro I wish you the very best of luck!
If you can think of anything that needs to be added to the list please feel free to comment below! I would love to hear your fair stories.
For other 4-H posts check out 4-H Program|An Overview.
Pinnable images:
4 Comments
Crystal
What do you use the tape for listed under rabbits?
Jennifer
Hi Crystal, we use the tape on Rex rabbits to gently pat their fur to get loose fur off before a show. Rex rabbits have a very plush coat (feels like velvet) and if you brush it you can lose some of the spring to their coat. The denseness and spring are what their fur is judged on. It’s also handy if you have to hang a picture or stall card:-)
Ayana Young
A good thing is Vaseline! I put on all my does feet the night before a show or a few days before and it helps loosen all the crud on their feet. I also put it on (now this may sound gross lol) butts to help loosen any dry poop and then wipe it out the next day.
Thank you for the list!
Jennifer
That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.