Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair!

We look forward to this for a whole year!

NOTHING compares to the great Iowa State Fair!

Watching the big boar contest is now an annual tradition.

Climbing on tractors is a favorite activity.

They can't wait to climb up these stairs each year...

And go zooming back down!

By the end of the fair Preston FINALLY decided he could do it himself.

And he didn't cry at the end.

We LOVED this new area of the fair!

Such a fun sculpture to see.

Annual cinnamon roll morning.

We need to buy MORE next year!

Who doesn't want a picture on a giant Leinenkugel's chair?

One of the super hot afternoons we went back down and played in the fountains on Pella Plaza.

I think this might have been Peighton's last year of doing Little Hands on the Farm.

She did parts of it with Preston but wanted no part of riding the tractors.

This kid still LOVED it!

We found even MORE cousins while at Little Hands on the Farm!

They decided they wanted to do the bungee/trampoline thing.

They both LOVED it and wanted to do it again!

Lots of flips in the air!

Favorite new shirt we found at the fair!

I lost count of how many corn dogs he actually ate.

Loved all these photo stands!

We love to find Fairfield and Rosetta walking around!

Preston got called on stage during the Thank a Farmer Magic Show!

He had so much fun!

Fun at the Washington County Fair 2016!

How much do we LOVE the fair?

The hay bales are always fun to see!

They were being pigs.

Loved the Charlotte's Web one!

An evening at the Tractor pull is always a favorite!

My little Clover kid got to show a lamb this year.

She was VERY excited and enjoyed learning about them at the Wagner's this summer.

She got to show "Mickey."

She did a great job and says she wants one next year.

One of the best parts this year was the Clydesdale horses on display.

We can't wait to find them at the State Fair where they will have some of their babies.

Buddies.

Usually, I have a No Carnival policy.

There's lots of reasons why...

But we caved and did the slide this year.

They claimed they needed to prep for the giant slide at the State Fair.

We loved the addition of piglets at Little Hands on the Farm this year!

When your Grandpa is on the Fair Board you jump on and take a ride to Orscheln's to get bedding and stop at the gas station to get a drink.

And you also go to the Depot and get a popsicle.

Future Fair Board members.

They had to help set up for the money scramble.

They all love the Pedal Pull.

We loaded up all the grandkids (minus the newest one) and rode the train!

It was a very fun and loud ride!

Our awesome little Clover Kid graduated!

They each had to say their favorite part of Clover Kids.

Peighton's was showing a lamb!

2016 County Fair is in the books!

Next we are off to the State Fair and we can't wait!!!!!

Simmental Junior Nationals 2016

We had a great week at Simmental Junior Nationals in Des Moines!

Cy got to come to the barn a few of the days.

Peighton LOVED having him down there.

They spent a bit of their time cleaning.

Most of their time was spent having lots of fun and learning!

Peighton did an obstacle course one night which included running in a circle of fitting mats as well as building with buckets and running through feed pans!

Uno was the game of the week.

Peighton loved playing with her new friend Colbey!

We can't wait to find Colbey at the State Fair this year!

Preston was happy to dig holes.

Lots of holes.

They made GREAT friends with the kids in our aisle.

We sent them on a scavenger hunt one night.

They had to find at least 5 kids from 5 other states in teams of two.

Preston even went along with some of the boys!

The Uno game just got bigger and better as the week went on.

Peighton got a one on one showmanship lesson at the Sullivan's workshop one night.

Her teacher was a friend of Dustin's who did a GREAT job with her.

She also participated in 3 contests throughout the week but there's not any pictures of that.

She had to prepare a Sales Talk and present it, along with her heifer to a buyer.

She judged 6 classes of calves and gave oral reasons on one class.

She also did a cattleman's quiz.

She did a great job on each of the contests!

Finally it was show day!

Cy got to come to his first cattle show!

Peighton showed Anna like a boss.

I like this picture because Anna was looking right at me taking the picture!

Peighton got Anna to stand just right in the ring.

LOVE this picture of pure concentration that was taken of Peighton!

She had a great week and is looking forward to the State Fair!