4H Spring Show in Woodland California

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Every year, the Yolo County 4H office sponsors a competition called 'Spring Show.' This is a chance for all of the kids to bring out their livestock for showing/judging and sale. Many of the animals will be purchased from the kids based on how they show during this event. These animals can bring in a lot of money, so the kids take it seriously!

They've got cows, pigs, goats and sheep out in the barns. They also have chickens and rabbits inside the buildings.

Coming to the Spring Show is a good way to get out, see some animals, and talk to the kids who are involved. It's good to see that not all of the kids out there are smoking meth and stealing cigarettes.

These two dogs were sitting out in the parking lot. Just imagine how excited they would have been if they were allowed in!

This page has 4 graphics which can be used as a background on your computer.
To create backgrounds: Some of the pictures below also have backgrounds- pictures at 1024x768 pixels in size. If a picture says it has a background, click on the picture. A new window will open with a larger goat picture. Right-click that picture, and choose 'Set as Background.'

Uses for Goats:

Feta Cheese
Angora Goats used like sheep's wool
Weed Control

This is a really nice goat- in fact it was so nice that I created a background.
(Follow instructions at the top of the page)

This is what the kids are here for- getting their animals judged.
Then they find out what kind of job they've been doing the past few months,
and learn a lot about the care of animals.

Another good-looking goat. This one also has a background- see directions at the top of the page.

You don't really need a leash to control a pig. Just a bowl of food will do it.
I watched the owner of this pig lead it around with this bowl of food- that pig was
NOT going to let the bowl out of it's sight, and would go anywhere the bowl went.

"You eat like a pig," has a whole new meaning for me. (and stop telling me that!)

Here's a nice picture of a pig. For all of you swine-hounds, I have also made a background for it.
Follow the directions up on top to get the background.

Lauren & Escapé

Lauren is a first year 4H club member who said that she really enjoyed the program. Her pig, Escapé (that's es-cop-eh) cost her $228. She raised the pig, and is hoping to earn about $735 from the sale of the 245 pound animal.

For a while Lauren only had to visit Escapé every other day- until Escapé got too fat. The pig used to have a self-feeder, and could eat all the food that it wanted, which was evidently way too much. Lauren had to put the pig on a diet. That meant she had to go out to the barnyard every day, to give the pig the allotted amount of food. Hmm...pigs on a diet, never really thought about that.

Her parents have been buying the food so far- but she is going to pay them back with some of here earnings. She'll be saving the rest of the money to buy a car in a few years. "Or, I'll get my mom's car. It's an Explorer- that would be a nice car."

I asked Lauren what her favorite pork product was.

"I really like ham. It just won't be as easy to eat ham anymore."

How will you feel when Escapé gets sold?

"I'll probably cry for a while"

Uses for Pigs

Bratwurst (ending the list here would be sufficient!)
Heart valves (yes- they put them in people!)
Ham
Finding truffles
Carnitas
Finding landmines (with their noses...and no, they don't get blown up)
Christmas dinner (as long as everyone agrees, 'No turkey this year.' But you know that some bozo will say "hey- how come we don't have turkey?")

Ozzy, Hopper, Hallee & Beth
(Ozzy is the one of the far right.)

I stopped these girls a few times to take pictures of them and their sheep. When I talked to them here, there were some problems- Ozzy started to eat Beth's hat. And Beth got mad and said "Everything is fine, except Ozzy keeps trying to eat everything!"

Do Sheep try to eat everything, like goats do?

"Her's does!"

Then Hopper started to eat papers that Hallee was holding, "Well your's tries to eat everything too!"

I asked the girls what they were going to do with the money after they sold their sheep.

"Go Shopping! Buy like ...clothes, a wakeboard, a skateboard, stuff like that. And save some too."

Check out Hallee's shoes. Sweet job matching the Chuck Taylor's to her tie.

Uses for Sheep

Clothing from wool
Home insulation (wool)
Lamb meat (or 'mutton' for older sheep.
Fertilizer

(click the picture to get a background)

I admit that I am not a big livestock guy. The petting zoo at Disneyland, and the supermarket are the closest I ever really got to animals larger than a dog. So when this animal stood up in it's pen and started to bite my hand, I wondered if it was going to eat me. Maybe some rare form of man eating goat that got mixed in with the other tame goats by accident. The first thing that went through my mind was that that even if it did bite me, some of the 4-H kids probably studied first aid, so I would be safe. (Plus they all have those green bandanas, so they could create a really festive tourniquet if they had to.)

Then I realized that the bites did not hurt- they tickled- a lot. Actually it felt really nice, this beast had a very gentle nibble, and maybe it was more interested in the salt on my hand, than the flesh inside. Or maybe it was going to torture me, and eat me very, very slowly. Luckily I finally broke free of it's grasp, and made it away from the pen alive.

I walked away still wondering if it was a sheep, or a goat. I had narrowed it down to those two- because I knew it wasn't a cow or a pig. Now that I look at the picture a bit more- I'm guessing it is a sheep because it was recently trimmed. But then again, they do have some hairy goats out there, so you can never be too sure.

Still keeping my eye out for those man eating goats though. My grandfather always told me, "Never try to reason with animals- just run, and climb into the nearest tree." Yet again, sound advice coming from a man who once painted my sisters car with a roller and brush.

More of the showing. Each of these sheep had won a blue ribbon, and were now going head to head.
The fact that each of them was the only sheep in its class, really doesn't make a difference.
They were blue-ribbon winners all the way!

There was actually a traffic-jam of calves leading to the show-ring.

For many people, raising 4-H animals gets the whole family involved.
There was a woman helping with the cow too- but either she moved away quickly
to get out of the picture.....or she is a vampire.

Nate and Lester

This is Nate, a first-year 4-Her and his steer Lester.

I asked Nate a little bit about Lester.

"Well, Lester is a grass-fed steer, he was naturally fed, he wasn't fed grain."

Does that taste any different?

"I don't know, I've never had grass fed beef."

Do you know who might buy Lester? Is there any chance of you eating Lester-Burgers in the future?

"Usually they get bought by someone who turns around and sells them to a bigger place, so you don't really know where they end up. Or my dad said he might buy him. But if he does buy him, he said he would feed him corn, because he doesn't like the taste of grass-fed. But if my dad buys him, I'll be eating a lot of Lester-Burgers."

Notice the reading material they provide for the cows. How would you like
that hanging over your head.

You really should look into this whole 'Tofu' thing. I heard it tastes just like chicken.

Meet Elliot

Elliot was owned by Stephanie. The girl in the picture is not Stephanie though, it was her friend who was helping Stephanie's mom give Elliot a bath. I talked to Stephanie's mom about Elliot and 4-H. This is what she had to say-

About Elliot: This is the first time we've done a calf, we have done swine (pigs) before, but never a calf. Cows are a lot more work than pigs. For one thing, you get them when they are very, very young. Only a few days old. So you have to bottle-feed them a couple meals a day.

I think Elliot was born on January 8th, so he's almost 5 months old. We kept him out at a barn near County Road 97 near Willow Oak. Elliot weighs about 290 pounds now. A calf can gain a couple of pounds every day.

About 4-H: The kids never asked to do 4-H, I just made them do it. I grew up doing 4-H, but I wasn't involved with animals, because I was a girly-girl. I did all of the girly-girl stuff like cooking, and sewing. (Editors note: Well that explains the very tasteful and well-coordinated mucking outfit.) Now 4-H is the kids main source of income, their only source of income really. They can get up to $500 per swine. My son Jared has been doing this for about 3 years now.

Vacuuming the cow. You know...doesn't everyone vacuum their livestock?

Uses for Cows

Chocolate Milk
Cheese
Hamburgers
Steak
Clothing (jackets/shoes, etc.)
Fertilizer
In many places they use cow urine to cure acne, athletes foot, and other skin conditions.
Meatloaf

Daddy bought me a puppy, and it just kept growing!

Uses for Rabbits

Cuddling.
That's it...just cuddling

What- did you think I wanted to make a little girl cry?

From: Kim Beaird - Date: 02-May-05

You did a great job at capturing "real" stories and seem to have fun with the kids. We especially liked the Chuck Taylor comparison you mentioned....we laughed so hard!! Thanks for giving you time to the girls....they had a great time.

From: Tom Reed - Date: 03-May-05

Excellent pictures and well written narrative. Thanks I enjoyed it.

From: Julie Berlin - Date: 03-May-05

What a great site! Thanks for taking the time and doing this..it was nice to forward to our friends and relatives who weren't able to make it.

From: Linda Pillard - Date: 16-May-05

You forgot the Poultry!

From: Trish - Date: 29-Jun-05

I LOVE your subtle and witty sense of humor that you put into every story!! And your personal stories (about your grandfather)add just the right amount of giggles. It's hard to do sarcasm and jokes on the web, but you do a good job! I know where to find a good laugh now!

From: Katie (Andrea's Sister)and Melissa(Her Friend) - Date: 10-Jul-05

Where is the pictures of us??!!-Rabbits and Dogs

From: Sherrie - Date: 11-Jul-05

The lady helping with the boy and the steer was me :) (the mom) I stepped out of the picture so you had a picture of a 4H member and his Project Leader, but since you didn't ask him any questions or get his name, you didn't get to find out why I stepped out of the picture. And.....usually the kids would prefer that "Mom" wasn't hanging around in all of the pictures :). I guess, guessing I might be a vampire is funnier :). Love "Inside Woodland". Keep up the good work.

From: Sharon - Date: 26-Dec-05

I just found this sight while look for this years Spring Show Information! Wonderful! I have been involved in the 4-H program for over 30 years and it was great to see this sight. I do have to admit I particularly liked it because you captured two of my kids on film! The oldest "vacumming" his steer doesn't show anymore so it is good to see the memories. Those steers have more hair products than anyone woman I know! Hopefully some more stories and pictures will happen in 2006. Hope to see you there!

From: Catherine - Date: 10-Jan-06

This is really great because I get to see my sister and borther on here. Like my mom saud "Sharon" it is nice to look back on the memories of my brothers showing days!

From: Sara Pereida - Date: 31-Jan-06

hey i do 4-h its my 4th year i raise sheep! sheep r awesome!!!

From: kara perez - Date: 13-Apr-06

Spring Show is soooo much fun!! Esparto/Capay Valley Rocks!! your right Linda, they did forget Poultry!

From: fong - Date: 18-Apr-06

is it possible to add more picture of rabbits into the rabbit catagory

From: kyla - Date: 06-Jun-06

umm.. site is very interesting. i take it this is in the states. cuz canada's 4-H clubs don't dress like they do. not in nova Scotica at least. and with rabbits. u can eat them.the meat rabbits. use the fur that u brush off and on the long haired ones u gently pull it off to make mittens and things. yea that's it

From: Darian Burns - Date: 10-Aug-06

What can you do a presentation on a pig do you know what I could do it on.

From: analie - Date: 27-Dec-07

this site is awesome how do these people keep up with their animals

From: allyah - Date: 27-Dec-07

i like this site because it has pigs in it!!!!Next time you guys should put pictures of the grand champions and the reserve grand champions,and even the showmenship winners!!!!!

From: Marie LaCroix - Date: 22-Apr-08

We are located in rural Davis, are a 10 acre treatment home for adults, and are looking for a free piggie. Our pot bellied pig is lonely!

From: Marie LaCroix - Date: 22-Apr-08

oops, forgot the contact number! (530)400-4422

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