A Fair and Family Day, Washington County Fair 2013

For more than 25 years the Washington County Fair has been part of the Vial Family culture.  Beginning in 1987 with a yearling heifer shown by Nic, over the years we had as many as 25 animals entered, I served for many years on the Fair Board, and for the last 10 or so years we Paula has run Tutu's Real Hawaiian Shave Ice.  Today, Nic and Hailey once again lead the largest 4-H Beef club in the county, and today was the payoff.  Thier club had the Grand Champion Market Steer, and our own Kennedy had the Supreme Grand Champion Female.  So here is a taste of the day.

Starts early with weighing in the steers at 6 am, and from then on it is getting ready for the SHOW!  Nic as leader is helping not just his own, but others as well.



It is now about 9 am, and Kennedy is pretty much ready as is her steer Jackpot.  Just waiting now for her turn to show.



Hanging with her sis CC who will be helping her later in the day.



About 11, after waiting for several hours, Kennedy is finally out near the ring with her steer, waiting for her chance.



Well, unfortunately, her steer didn't really do that well, so we will skip the show. But while waiting to go back in for lineup, I caught her hanging with her homie Kaylie.



Jackpot really was a nice looking steer, but the judge was experienced enough to see beyond the hair and realized that it just wasn't quite finished.



So after all that work, it is back to the barn, wash the steer to get the sticky stuff out of the hair, wash up a bit yourself, feed and water the animals, and check on your females and breed animals to get ready for the next show.

Meanwhile back at the Shave Ice booth, things are really hopping.  On the first day of the fair, all of the kid field trips are there, and many make Shave Ice a must stop.



With the Pham girls up front, and Kevin at the shaver, Grandma (Tutu in Hawaiian) is doing a booming business.




Even Nate, who swore he was not going to step foot in the booth this year is getting into the act.



The Twins are brings their friends by for free shave ice.



Grandma is hanging out back with Tulia.





And Weston is across the way with Dad checking out the awesome puzzles.



Kenni, Alicia, Zuri, Dot, even Hoa and Thuy were around as it really is a family affair.

Meanwhile, the cow show crew is grabbing some grub before the next show.




The 4-H Breed Confirmation show started at 1 pm, and Kennedy and her trusted helper CC who was to show the calf were ready to go.



But, by about 3, everybody including animals was getting tired.  Kennedy's hopes to having a winner was slipping to let's just get this over with.





Once they got going however, it was all smiles.  The judge loved Kennedy's calf, and was even more impressed with her mother.







In the end even a very tired Dad was happy, and Kennedy's Cow was named the Supreme Grand Champion.  That means it was best not just of it's breed, but of all breeds.  There were some really good cows in this show, so this was a big deal!








As darkness approaches,  the hypnotist has them laughing on the main stage.  Kennedy and Dad are getting the animals bedded down, and the night crew is having fun with the Shave Ice booth.  The crazies are all around, but that's part of what makes the fair the fair.





Fair 2013 Day One.  Peace,  Out

Nome Birding June 10, 2013

Arrived in Nome about noon on June 10. There are only really three roads out of Nome.  We went out on Kougarok Road, where Ken Archer had scoped out some nests and the location of some rare birds in the days leading up to our trip.  On the way out we stopped near some willows at roadside and got a couple of song birds.

Orange Crowned Warbler





And Lincoln Sparrow





And a bit further out a pair of Harlequin Ducks clearly feeling the spring.




About 40 miles out or so, we stopped at the nest of a Long Tailed Jaeger.  By setting up about 100 feet away from the nest, the bird was curious, but not too disturbed by our presence. 





















While we were there, a Lapland Longspur showed up. This was also a first for me. 





A bit further on, we saw our first American Golden Plover from the road.







As we were driving out further onto the high tundra, the scenery was stunning.



Ken had seen some other rarities about a mile off the road in a rock outcropping. We hiked up to it and got some great birds. 

Rock Ptargiman












The Hoary Redpoll



And a real prize in the Northern Wheateater









All of these pictures were taken about 11 pm!  We continued out to the Kuzitrin River Bridge at mile 67.5, but didn't see much else.  Near the bridge I got a few flight shots of Osprey and a Red-breasted Merganser. 





And on the way back, about 3 in the morning the road was thick with Willow Ptargiman



Unbelievable first few hours on the Seward Peninsula.