If ever there was a time I would have my own food truck, it would be called Mr. Wooly’s Lamb Shop and it would feature the best lamb burger in the country. The Shop would not just serve the best lamb burgers, but there would also be a special dish called “sloppy woolies” which would be a take on the traditional sloppy joe by using freshly ground lamb. The menu would be simple with a couple of good sandwich kind of sides and pictures…..pictures of Mr. Wooly and of his life growing up on the farm. Mr. Wooly’s Lamb Shop would be a tribute to Mr. Wooly himself because……many years ago, Mr. Wooly broke my heart.
It was a beautiful summer day at the Mesa County Fair in Colorado. Livestock pens where the steers, pigs and sheep lived for the next few days were everywhere. In another area, temporary housing for chickens and rabbits were provided. The smell of fresh hay permeated the air. Young adults were busy feeding their own animals. The pens all had a 4-H sign on them signifying which chapter they represented. The animals would soon be competing to decide the ultimate reward which was Grand Champion of the Show. There was a lot to be done. Pens needed to be cleaned and the animals needed to be groomed. More feed needed to be brought in where it was stacked next to the pen. Water buckets were filled. And the animals needed the pampering only their owners could provide. There were always people around, some with small children who loved to pet the sheep…and the docile sheep seemed to like the extra attention. By evening, most of the crowds had left and the day ended as it began. Just as the early dawn brought light and comfort, the evening shadows brought the day to a peaceful, quiet end.
The Fair’s schedule and the class the animals were competing in determined the time the animals were called to the show ring. Lambs were usually classified into different weight classes. From there they were judged on their body shape (referred to as conformation), balance and amount of fat (determined by their grooming and the judge). It was the owner’s responsibility to show the lamb in the best possible position to showcase the criteria. Sheep were also divided into market sheep and breeding sheep. These classes had weight restrictions. And then there was the Sheep Showmanship class. The Sheep Showmanship class focused on the lamb as well as how the showman/owner presented the lamb to the judge. Mr. Wooly and I entered this competition. As soon as school was out for the summer, my days were devoted to preparing for the Fair in August.
My summer was spent attending local 4-H chapter meetings. These meetings were geared to preparing the local kids for the Mesa County Fair. When school was out for the summer, my lamb who was born in the Spring, became my best friend. He lived in a grassy pasture on the north side of the house. There was a shade tree and the pasture was irrigated with water from a dirt ditch. Time was spent learning how to use tools for grooming young lambs. We practiced the proper stance to be used in the show ring and we played. Mr. Wooly was a handsome lamb with beautiful dark markings on his four legs, ears and nose. He was quite the showman himself which was to his benefit in the show ring.
The day came for the Sheep Showmanship class. We were competing against several others, however the stiffest competition came from an older male who had won the competition the previous year. Needless to say his confidence and control of his lamb in the show ring was impressive. Mr. Wooly and I practiced all summer to prepare for this showmanship contest. The lamb’s four legs had to be squarely positioned directly under the body. His chin had to be held high. The show person had to be in a squatting position with one arm/hand under the chin and the other arm on the back rump. Then, we would turn the lamb in a different direction and do the same position again as quickly as possible. Depending on the lamb, this procedure could take several minutes. Many times, the judge would go from one showman to another. Finally, some of the participants were dismissed when they faltered on some of the stances or their lambs lost focus. It came down to Mr. Wooly and last year’s winner. We held our own during the last few agonizing moments waiting for the judges final decision. Then, the judge made his move and pointed to us…..We Won!
Sadly, that is where this story ends. I did not know that my Mr. Wooly was headed to the Junior Livestock Sale and would not return to our summer camp idyllic pasture. When I was told that news by my father, the tears started flowing and I experienced what it meant to have a broken heart. In retrospect, there were lessons learned from this broken heart.
- Sheep rely on the human connection to meet their needs while on this earth. They “return the favor” when they leave this earth by providing nutritional support, healthy food and good-for-you meal choices.
- County Fairs are an important part of American culture, showcasing agriculture and livestock shows.
- “I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, and my HEALTH to better living ………” the 4-H motto to foster youth involvement anywhere, anytime.
Now, about that food truck…….