We love our county fair- 10 Things All Show Moms Need During Fair Week

Yesterday, an ad was posted on Facebook alerting the 2020 dates for our local county fair. Yup, for the rest of the livestock free world those dates are now released for a fun (and exciting for this small town) event. For 4-H and FFA families, it's a wonderful exciting stressful week full of sweat, blood, and tears. Or maybe that's just my family. Since the dates have been released to the public, it cements that our county fair is right around the corner. Even though I did see the Facebook Post while I was scrolling through while I was watching my oldest little love wash/blow his show calves, it's official "official." I decided I'd sit down at 4:00 the next morning and write down the top 10 things to bring as the official show mom for my son this year instead of the 4-H agent/chicken with it's head cut off. At least the first part of that label is no longer, the head cut off chicken, probably still will be the same.

So with that, while my brain isn't fogged down fitting/packing/ironing/planning meals/etc, let's talk about the top 10 things every show mom needs during their fair week, that usually or at least in our case, gets forgotten.

1. Lawn Chairs. Yup these babies are gold. Especially when little ones are exhausted and need a space to rest those weary feet. Or you need a nap because... it's a crazy week and you just need one. These golden chairs of heaven during the week will most likely smell of the county fair afterwards. When you take them out and use them afterwards for another event, be prepared for a nice wiff of fair week. If you haven't experienced this aroma afterwards, don't worry, you will soon. PS- I don't think this smell will ever be made into a Bath & Body Works candle anytime soon. 

   

   I thought I'd have a picture from fair's of years past of anyone in a lawn chair.
   Yup. Nothing. So generic picture it is...

2. Totes. The large plastic totes that can be the amazing catch all for all fair crap items that seem to accumulate way too fast during a short amount of time. These are also great for when bringing things from home to the fairgrounds and vice versa. This keeps things inside clean-ish and they have handles that help carry when at the end of the day, everyone is dog gone tired. If you can find a tote that has wheels- jackpot! It's crazy how much bigger the local fairgrounds become during fair week. You definitely get your steps in! We have a show box that is a great traveling closet but when bringing things back and forth each day, totes mcgoats it is.
   
   



She was pretty excited over the snack haul. 

3. Snack Foods. Fair week is pure manna in my children's eyes. Not because of the endless amount of grease and fried food that comes along during this week. No, because this is the week that the week before we go full-monty and buy all the crap snack foods that their little hearts can desire to help save a buck or five at the fair the next week. We buy in bulk to save a buck and we are so blessed with the best 4-H club that the food gets put on a communal table for our club and everyone shares the manna. You have no idea how much money this saves during fair week. Hungry? Grab a snack between fitting. Tired? Grab some of the sugar-y concoctions and a water bottle. Class didn't go like you'd have hoped? Grab a chocolate covered something. See? No, I'm not promoting this type of eating any other time of the year but during fair week. All holds off.
4. Zip Ties/Wire and something to cut them. These are the ultimate things to have during fair week. There is always something that needs to be tied/wired together. Whether it be a random panel that keeps getting moved, a pen sign that keeps falling off or if you show goats/lambs, ate off. Or heck a child that needs to be humbled. Just kidding on the last one but these zip ties are always needed and nobody ever seems to have them except for the one guy that's prepared and on the clear other side of the barn/building/fairgrounds. We now keep zip ties year round in the bottom of both of our strollers, just in case.
5. Baby wipes/paper towels/clorox wipes. Again, another thing that gets forgotten so easily but these come in handy. You will need these to wipe butts to faces of either the animal or the child going into the ring.
   
6. Sharpies. Let's be real. Kids and things get lost during fair week. I have very brave and not shy 2 out of 3 children. My middle child taught me not to judge other parents. The first child tricked me. The second one, yeah, I just don't judge parents. Sharpies are great to write your phone number on their arm/hand if they get lost. One parent friend has her children wear bright neon colors shirts that she has custom made with her number/contact info on too. Just in case. Our county fair is the only county fair in Clark County with over 80,000 visitors over the few days. So yeah, something happening to my middle little love scares the heck out of me. Also, things can go walking/used during the week. Writing your name on them helps when other moms are putting stuff away and they realize things went home with items accidentally that shouldn't have. Sharpies are great huh? Except when I find my littlest love holding one in my house and the lid has gone missing... That's not so great... Anyway.
7. Extra ties/shirts/pants. All pressed and ready to go. My oldest little is all boy. Keeping him clean is probably like landing the Apollo Moon Landing. Extremely hard and frustrating. Love him dearly but good heck. Then showing calves that drool a lot or even accidentally rub up against him or anywhere near him, dirty dirty dirty. The extra ties are always getting borrowed as well. It goes without saying someone, somewhere has forgotten a green 4-H tie that are required to show at our county fair. I have learned to keep a spool of green ribbon in random places during fair week. Like in each vehicle and an extra one in the show box. Granted, this year another mom offered to order my oldest little love the nice clip on 4-H ties, we made sure we bought two. Just in case. I love the ribbon because it's so cute but my son thinks the tie is better. OH well, we have two. Just in case. If your child is showing more than one animal in a day, plan on extra white pressed shirts too. Trust me, you'll need it. If not the first day, you'll need it another. Somehow my magical child can get the first shirt dirty just while putting it on. Takes skill I'm telling you. Just plan on packing extra sets of clothes. 
8. Aspirin/Ibuprofen/ etc. Both adult and if you have littles, children versions as well. This includes a first-aid kit as well. You probably won't need a field kit version but a basic first aid kit. Someone will need something and you've got it covered. Again, keep these in your magical plastic totes or your show box. Ideally in the same spot that is known to both you and your spouse so when the time arrives, your not scrambling trying to find it or explain explicitly to your spouse where it is exactly. In this first aid kit, pack extra safety pins. Always a thing that is needed at the last minute. There is never enough of these when the time is needed. Oh and butt paste. Or Desitin. Something random but let's be real. Things get chaffed. Especially when our weather can swing either way during our spring fair. It can be really hot or heck really chilly/wet/windy. Throw a tube in your tote and you'll thank me when your bottom is nice and well nice.
   
9. Chain and Padlock. I don't know how every time we go to a show, we always lose this or forget it. This helps to chain your showbox/chairs/anything you don't want to go walking together or to a pole. Along with locking your stock trailer up. Just in case. I seriously don't know how we always forget this until I'm laying in bed the night before any show and I'm going thru my lists and this is always the "Oh crap! We forgot the chain/locks!" I seriously should buy stock in these for any fairs/jackpots.
10. Crockpot meals. You know the whole saving money thing? It also saves time! Crockpot meals are the best. I'm 100% on board for meals that you don't have to do anything except for plug it in and walk away. We do crockpot meals 2-3 times a week and this doesn't change during fair week. I just make bigger portions to feed more folks. Again, if you have a few families you show with, divide and conquer nights together. I have the best club families. Like I'm talking yummy yummy food (and of course personalities) but oh gosh. The fair tamales last year were life savers ya'll. Anyway... Crockpot meals. Make sure you get the crockpot liners as well. These will save your life. So so easy. I wish I would've known about these liners years ago. They are the best. So what meals are good for fair week? A ton! BBQ pulled pork is always a staple because everyone can come and grab some between fitting/showing/washing/blowing/etc. Grab a few bags of buns/rolls and don't forget a spoon to grab the meat in and you are good to go. Another great one- Walking tacos are another easy meal. Brown the meat before fair, then freeze it. Pull it out one of the mornings of fair then put into your slow cooker. Let it cook all day. Then let the kids make their own walking tacos using the bags of chips you bought (see #3 above) and they are fed. You'll want to remember plastic silverware/napkins. Again, buy in bulk and keep it in your plastic tote. Keep them somewhat/kinda clean. 

Toys to keep the littles occupied/busy are always wonderful too!
We like trucks/tractors/construction toys/footballs/chalk. 

These are just some things that I've learned from showing when I was in my younger days and now as a show mom, things that have saved my bottom. I've had the opportunity when I was the 4-H agent to observe and take notes of the amazing things that show moms do and what works/helps everyone survive. I'm sure I'm forgetting things. What do you suggest is a "must-have" during fair week? Either way, good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor during fair week!

2018. 6-7 months pregnant + 4-H agent=
Exhaustion level 110%