First Time at the Fair

WAITSBURG – First-time 4-Her Lash LaRue admits that showing an animal at the Walla Walla fair is hard work, but says it's well worth it. "I had fun with it and I'll definitely do it again next year. I'm saving some of my money to buy just the kind of lamb I want and saving some for feed for next year," Lash said.

Eleven-year-old Lash, along with his older brother Joseph, joined the Crafty Farmers R Us 4-H group this year, after his parents asked if he'd be interested in raising a 4-H animal.

"I decided to give it a try. I wanted to do a pig, but I couldn't because we didn't have a place to keep it, so I went with sheep. I feel like I made the right choice. It's a way to bond with an animal and learn, and you have to work with sheep more," he said.

Lash said lambs need to be walked daily, to help them stay healthy and gain muscle. In addition to daily walks the 4-H group worked together with their lambs several times a month, preparing them for judging and teaching them how to brace properly. "You want to make sure they're not jumpy when you put them in place," he said.

Lash named his Suffolk cross lamb Daniel because fellow 4-Her, Braden Kitselman, had named his lamb Jack. "Get it? Jack – Daniel?" Lash asked with a grin.

Lash has another lamb he'll be taking to the Columbia County Fair this weekend named Spaz. "That's for two reasons. Because it was bald with this really cool spiral sticking up on its head. And then the first time that I saw it, it came up really close to me and started shaking," Lash said.

Fair prep began on Wednesday when Lash helped his dad, Dan LaRue, make three separate trips to Walla Walla, hauling in animals. "It took two hours to get the first pig in the trailer, 30 minutes to get the second pig in, and then about 30 seconds to load up all eight lambs," Lash said. (Possibly, another indicator that raising lambs was the right choice.)

Each 4-H club decorates their stall area and members post pictures of them posing with their animal. Members are also required to make and display an educational poster. During the fair Lash said he cleaned the stall daily, changed water three times a day, and fed his lamb twice a day, as well as preparing for showing events.

Lash said most FFA and 4-H members bring campers and stay at the fairgrounds, but his grandparents were using his family's camper. "We were just going to put sleeping bags in the tack room, but then we decided it was going to be too cold," he said. Instead, they drove home each night, which meant getting up at 5:30 a.m. to be at the fairgrounds bright and early each day.

Lash said he stayed at the fairgrounds most of the day, then came home for a quick nap before Waitsburg Giants football practice at 5:30 p.m.

When it came to the showmanship competition, Lash said he "didn't do too well, but OK for my first year." He said that showing his lamb for market was tough. All that bonding had paid off and it was hard to say good-bye.

"My favorite part of fair was being there with my sheep. Once he fell asleep in my arms and put his head on my belly. Then when I sold it I cried because I was sad," he said.

Lash sold his 155 lb. lamb for $5.50/lb and said the average sale price was between $5/lb. and $7/lb. "The Reserve Grand Champion sold for $18/lb. and Braden (Kitselman) got Grand Champion and his sold for $13/lb. It kind of depends on if they already know you or not when they bid," Lash said.

Tough as it was, Lash is pleased with what he's learned and is looking forward to Dayton this weekend, and then doing it all over next year.

"It taught me responsibility and to have respect for something that you have to take care of and work with and take responsibility for," he said. "It was definitely a good experience."