All packed up for the fair

Jpshostr · July 19, 2002

Currently in the middle of another county fair with two steers. Sure need to take a lot of stuff to show cattle these days. At least this is a local one, so we can get by taking only a few bales of straw to start with and very little feed at a time, as well as the luxury of making two trips! Come state fair time the back of the trailer that looks so bare now will be filled to the top with equipment, straw, feed, etc, not to mention the nose of the trailer and the bed of the truck.

Took a load the night before, straw, stall gates, fan bracket, and the grooming chute. Mainly the bulky stuff that is just a pain in the butt to move and that we don't want to deal with while having cattle on the trailer. All this stuff is eight feet long, so we are able to go down the road with the tailgate up. (I won't say what I'm expected to say here. )

The big stuff in the back of the trailer, just the showbox, generator, some feed, the fans, and some straw. Plenty of room!

These two boys are ready to go, their area to ride is the front compartment.

MarkD · July 19, 2002

I like the rear bumper. Did you build it or buy it?

As always... great pics.

HillHound · July 19, 2002

Nice photos Jp. Are you selling the steers or just showing them?

Jpshostr · July 19, 2002

I like the rear bumper. Did you build it or buy it?

Its a DMI, 11 years old, on its third truck, still works like new, although a little paint could go back on it. Doesn't look like most of them as its a straight bar, not the drop hitch like many are. Only bumper to have on a real truck as far as I'm concerned. I'm keeping my eye out for a used one to buy to keep for a second truck to hopefully join the fleet here soon.

Jpshostr · July 19, 2002

Nice photos Jp. Are you selling the steers or just showing them?

They are being shown at these current fairs as animals that are soon to be slaughtered for meat. Hence the emphisis on steer shows is what steer is going to produce the highest quality carcass, and produce such in the most efficient manner. The heifer show, which we don't have one for this year, is judged on an animal's potential to grow up and become a good cow that can easily take care of a calf.

Our state fair is in three weeks, then the show and sale is a week after that. That is the last show for these animals, after which they will be sold for meat. I can't wait for that day, usually I get a bit sad when we sell our steers (get quite attached to them, work with them everyday from November until late August) but these two have been the most stubborn, aggrevating animals I've ever been around. When they hit that truck for the packing plant, I'll have a smile on my face.

Jpshostr · July 19, 2002

Figured I may as well put up a picture of what the showbox looks like when its setup (its the two boxes in the back of the trailer). Its used to store all our needed supplies at the fair, as well at home, hair sprays, brushes, combs, water buckets, feed pans, oils, clippers, and many many other things that we need to care for the calves and style the hair for the show. Notice the blue blower in the picture, its a 3.5hp hair dryer.

We also use this grooming chute to hold the animals while clipping them or fitting (grooming) them for the show. It breaks down nicely to easily fit in the back of the truck.

pacodiablo · July 20, 2002

those cows in the trailer look like my cat when she is freaked out

couple of questions...

do you ever get pulled over for that beat up L-plate?

and...

did you clean the truck for the fair?

Jpshostr · July 20, 2002

do you ever get pulled over for that beat up L-plate?

and...

did you clean the truck for the fair?

Never have been pulled over for beat up plates, around here that just kind of comes with trucks, just about every one around here gets used like ours, pretty rare to find driveway and pavement queens. The state here is doing a new plate program, they are almost done with the cars but haven't started the light trucks yet. These plates are on their fourth truck, so they've served quite a life.

Truck got cleaned last Saturday so a friend could use it to move, other than that nope. Haven't had rain forever until last night, so no mud has gotten on it, just some crap from the pasture. Got half an inch of rain overnight, so she's a little dirty now from checking cows early this morning, but not too bad. Only fair we clean it up for is the state fair, and no, we don't do any of this handwash, wax, Zaino, etc. nonsense. Just pressure wash that outside, vacuum out the inside, use some dash cleaner, cloth cleaner, and glass cleaner and get it looking pretty fancy.

OhioPlowboy · July 25, 2002

HAHAH! I CAN BEAT JP!!!!!!!!

being that our truck has no carpet, the pressure washer takes a trip thought the interior to get the cowcrap, mud and god knows what else off of there. just have to watch where you point the wand, keeping it away from electronic items.

I am looking for a mid 90s K1500 (I dont really need a 3/4 ton right now) long bed, 350, 4x4, in the same trim level, so I can do the same. I know, I am lazy, but I am only going to get it dirty again.