Animals prepped for livestock show

On the surface, it seems like an average beauty parlor. Clippers buzz. Combs work through tangles and fingers massage through fruit scented, fluffy soap suds.

But in this case the primping is for the livestock at the Curry County Fair.

Inside the animal barns, 15-year-old Kayley Pelfrey squirted orange soap on her hands and smoothed it across her hog’s back and legs, scrubbing him with a bristled mitt Tuesday as the swirling muddy water danced down the cement and metal drains to the sounds of moos, snorts and bleats.

In her second year showing livestock at the fair, Pelfrey said she raised and prepared her 5-month-old hog for show from the time he was a few weeks old.

“It’s fun,” the Texico teen said. “(But) it’s a lot of hard work.”

In the sheep section of the barn, 13-year-old Mitchell Pinnell scrutinized the wavy lines created by Garrett Foote’s clippers along a sheep’s back.

“After you do quite a few sheep it gets old,” Foote said.

The 15-year-old said he has been showing livestock for about five years and sees a future for himself in agriculture.

Outside the livestock barn, Garrett Ford, 11, tugged on “Lily’s” lead rope, trying to guide the 5-month-old heifer in a straight line through a small, grassy paddock.

“My cow doesn’t like the show halter,” he said. “It makes too much noise.”

Garrett and cousins Ethan Baldock, 9, and Taryn Baldock, 12, were practicing handling techniques for their moment in the show ring.

“She’s small but I think she’s going to do good,” Taryn said of heifer “Sweet Tart,” who stood placidly as the Texico girl stroked her forehead. “I placed last before but I think she’s going to get me higher than that.”

Taryn said last year she jokingly suggested her city-living cousins Garrett and Ethan raise animals at her home and show them. They took her up on it.

“And it came with some hard work,” Ethan said.

Taryn’s step-mother, who manages a Friona dairy, said learning to work with livestock through the 4-H program is a valuable lesson for youth.

“I grew up on a farm, but my husband and his whole family grew up in the city,” she said.

Looking at her nephews leading their heifers away, she said, “doing this teaches respect and gives them confidence. And it keeps them moving and keeps them outside.

“It’s all about stuff that’s been forgotten in the big scheme of things.”

Today, August 13 – Dairy Day

8:30 a.m. — Booster Junior Replacement Dairy Heifer Show, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

10 a.m. — Junior Replacement Dairy Heifer Show, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Agriculture and Home Arts exhibits open

Noon — Jr. Livestock exhibitors lunch

2 p.m. — Junior Market Goat Show, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

3 p.m. — Booster Lamb Show, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

3:30 p.m. — Junior Market Lamb Show, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

4 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Commercial exhibits open

4 p.m. — Chain saw artist, Midway Area

5 p.m. — Team Roping, Mounted Patrol Arena

5 p.m. — Midnight — Carnival Open, Hero’s Night ($15.00 wrist band w/Police, Firefighter, Military ID) All Others $25.00

5 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

6 p.m. — Rabbit Show, Indoor Pavilion

6 p.m. — 4-H, FFA Poultry Released, Poultry and Rabbit Barn

6 p.m. — Chain saw artist, Midway Area

6 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

6:30 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure, Midway Area

6:30 p.m. — Little Buckaroo Rodeo, Grass Show Ring

7 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Raoming Act

8 p.m. — Chain saw artist, Midway Area

8 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

8 p.m. — Midnight — DJ, Under the Grandstand

8:30 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Show, Midway Area

8:30 p.m. — Whiskey Rebellion, Entertainment Area

9:30 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

10 p.m. — Chain saw artist, Midway Area

Thursday, August 14 – Special Needs Day

10 a.m. — Curry County Bred Lamb Show, Grass Arena

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Agriculture and Home Arts exhibits open

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Special Needs Day activities

11 a.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.—Special Needs Citizen’s Lunch – Indoor Pavilion

Noon — All poultry must be out of Poultry and Rabbit Barn

1 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure

4 p.m. — Junior Breeding Cattle Show, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

4 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Commercial exhibits open

5 p.m. to Midnight — Carnival Open (Thrifty Nickel Reader Appreciation Night — 3 wristbands for $40 w/coupon from the Thrifty Nickel) All others $25.00 each

5 p.m. — Junior Market Steer Show, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

5 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

6 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

6 p.m. — Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

6:30 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure, Midway Area

7 p.m. — Youth Pet Show, Grass Show Ring

7 p.m. — Demolition Derby, Mounted Patrol Arena

7 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

8 p.m. — Lluvia y Sol Band Concert, Entertainment Area

8 p.m. — Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

8 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

8 p.m. — Midnight — DJ, Under the Grandstand

8:30 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure, Midway Area

9 p.m. — Los Texmaniacs Concert, Entertainment Area

9:30 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

10 p.m. —Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

Friday, August 15 – 4H/FFA Day

9:30 a.m. — Junior Livestock Sale Meeting, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

9:30 a.m. — Presentation of 4-H Home Economics & General Projects Sweepstakes Award Winners, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Agriculture and Home Arts exhibits open

3 p.m. — Junior Livestock Sale Pictures Taken

3:30 p.m. — Singles Horseshoe Pitching Contest, West of Old House

4 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Commercial exhibits open

5 p.m. — Jr. Livestock Sale Animals, Curry County Special Events Center

5 p.m. — Midnight — Carnival Open, Wristbands $25 each

5 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

5:30 p.m. — Buyer’s Reception, Curry County Special Events Center

6 p.m. — Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

6 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

6:30 p.m. — Junior Livestock Sale, Curry County Special Events Center

6:30 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure, Midway Area

7 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

7 p.m. — 9 p.m. — Square Dancers, Food Court Area

8 p.m. — Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

8 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

8 p.m. — Midnight — Under Grandstand Area

8:30 p.m. — LA Party Dolls, Entertainment Area

8:30 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure, Midway Area

9:30 p.m. — Puppetmobile, Roaming Act

10 p.m. — Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

Saturday, August 16 — Youth and Pioneer Day

8 a.m. — Arena Cross Qualifying Race, Mounted Patrol Arena

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Youth Day Activities

9 a.m. — 9th Annual Great American Turtle Race, Kevin Roberts Show Arena

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Agriculture and Home Arts exhibits open

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Commercial exhibits open

10 a.m. — Old Timer Celebration, 4-H Extension Bldg

10 a.m. — Mixed Teams Horseshoe Pitching Contest, West of Old House

10 a.m. — Chain saw artist, Midway Area

1 a.m. — Puppetmobile Roaming Act

Noon — Old Timer Lunch, 4-H Extension Bldg

Noon — Midnight — Carnival open, Wristbands $25 each

2 p.m. — Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — 4-H exhibits release, Home Arts Building

6 p.m. — Puppet Mobile Roaming Act, Midway Area

6 p.m. — Chain saw Artist, Midway Area

6 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure, Midway Area

7 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

7:30 p.m. — Arena Cross Finals, Mounted Patrol Arena

7:30 p.m. — Shawn Gregory Midway Area

8 p.m. — Kene Terry Concert, Entertainment Area

8 p.m. — Livestock entries released

8 p.m. — Let’s Pretend Pirate Adventure, Midway Area

8 p.m. — Puppet Mobile Roaming Act, Midway Area

8:30 p.m. — Auction of Chain saw carvings, Square Dance Area

9 p.m. — Stoney LaRue Concert, Entertainment Area

9 p.m. — The Granpa Cratchet Show, Midway Area

9:30 p.m. — Agriculture Building closed

10 p.m. — Agriculture exhibits released

Sunday, August 17

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Home Arts and Ag exhibits released.