Crossing my fingers for you AK Michelle.
Well, my daughter was quite pleased with how things turned out. This was quite a learning experience for both of us about the little tricks of the trade so to speak. Pretty cut throat group of exhibitors, these show folk are. Folks were not too forthcoming with tips/information of how to show better so we did some things wrong but learned from it for next time. For instance when we registered for the show I was told that the pair pullets had to be different birds from the pullets used in the trio. Well as it turned out almost everyone (but us) used the same birds and nothing was said. She didn't place in the trio event. But she did place 6th in cockerel bantam and 6th in pullet pair. The judge came from Cleveland (about 3 hrs away) and he said he was impressed at the amount of birds our fair had. He said he usually sees fairs as a meat bird show with a few others thrown in, but ours only had maybe 20 entries of the meat class and the barn was FILLED with a good variety of really good birds. He gave my daughter compliments for the condition of the birds and singled out the wing condition telling her that the wing feathers were in perfect condition.
She also received 1st in Showmanship, so I guess she was listening all along when we were in the coop discussing/handling the birds these past few months.
In open class she did much better. She received Best Variety and Best in Breed for Pullet D and she got Reserve Variety for one of her Cockerels. Between 4H and Open class she brought home 12 ribbons and some premium money in her pocket. I think she's hooked now.
Not sure if we will ever show again, other than at the fair though. I wasn't pleased at the snotty attitude of others that wouldn't share or TEACH us what to do, but rather looked at us as the competition and left us out there to hang. I tried to talk to others about their birds and they wouldn't give us the time of day because they didn't know us.
More importantly I think the pleasant memories she took from the experience are what its all about, win lose or draw. But I'm glad she won