Who's Going to the TN Valley Fair Sept 5-14?

[wegotchickens]

The registration is done and I've read the 'livestock catalog'.

But are there any experts out there who can tell me what they wished they knew when they first started showing poultry? I'm a total newbie...

 

[DawnSuiter]

well.. this is probably what you DON"T want to hear, and we have only the Cocke Cty fair under our belts (which we got 1st & 2nd place) but I wish I had known:

1.My chickens would not be provided a roost, nor a cage big enough to spread their wings in
2.That they would be kept on CEDAR bedding and a very small amount of it at that.
3.Food would NOT be available very often, maybe once or twice a day in a very small amounts
4.That it would cost the regular entrance fee to stop by and see my birds
added: 5. That by the end of the week they would look sad & depressed, nervous with dander & it would take them a couple of days to adjust to being home again and roosting.

When we went to visit them, they practically tried to KILL themselves to get out of the cage to us... 2nd place was sticking his neck SO far through the bars, just to try & cuddle. These are friendly birds normally but NOT that friendly.

So... hey whos going? I'm going to stop by and see what's there...
I'll post here which date I'm going.... or maybe we could coordinate a meeting... say ... at the Pink chicken! LOL.. no.. just kidding.. I don't know if the pink showgirl will be there..

 

[wegotchickens]

Having been to the TN Valley Fair poultry barn MANY MANY times over the years (20+) I already knew the bad parts about food, water, bedding, perch & cage size.
I suspected the entrance fee thing but am pre-paying for a pass.

I certainly plan on being there both Saturdays. First one w/out kids, 2nd on with kids. I can wear my BYC shirt to make me easier to spot. I'm also thinking of making myself a WEGOTCHICKENS shirt with some of those iron-on transfer deals...

Bodyflight, did you get paid anything for winning or just get a ribbon & bragging rights?

 

[DawnSuiter]

They were my daughters entires and she received a $3 premium for 1st place and a $2 premium for second place.

btw.. check out this CRAZY sunflower we saw there http://picasaweb.google.com/bodyflight.net/CountyFairsShows/photo#5235857555460227714

 

[wegotchickens]

That's cool. I had some awesome sunflowers this year but let the little birds eat most of them up. Maybe something new to think about next year...

Sure hope someone commits to a date they're going. Would nice to meet more BYC-ers, espacially local. And it would make me not mind so much that hubby doesn't want to do the fair with me this year

 

[DawnSuiter]

On Monday I should know when i'm going. I can try for Saturday the 6th IF I don't have any more turkeys hatching outta batch #2 (due on Friday night) and if I do expect more turkeys (will know after candling on Monday night) then I should probably go on Sunday so I have a saturday available for late hatchers.

IF I go Saturday, DD will be on a ROTC Rafting trip so it'll just be me & hubby
on Sunday it'll be all 3 of us

 

[walkswithdog]

Woooooohooo, TN BYCer's at the fair. Yay. I'll be there Sat morning! Oh dance. I'll be the one with a custom black forearm crutch. ( I wanted purple flames on it but Laura says it's dated and spoiled and I'm too old for a paint job - lol) Laura has a one fair limit so it'll be just me but I wanted to watch some of the showing.

 

[MandyH]

What part of TN is this fair in?

 

[walkswithdog]

This is the TN Valley fair in Knoxville. Yay, this one is close!

 

[wegotchickens]

Walkswithdog, hopefully I can find you there Saturday morning!