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Luxembears
Hi guys,
Right now we are very busy with the County Fair as our children show cattle so there is a lot of back-and-forth running from fair-to-farm.....but I wanted to stop in quickly and share with you some exciting news about my daughter Rachel.
She is a 4H member and shows cattle. She has been showing since the age of 4 in Kiddie Showmanship but now that she is 4H things get a little tougher.
Some of you might remember a post of mine is 2006 where Rachel's fist year in 4H she won Top Blue in Showmanship. There is an awful of work that goes into preparing for Showmanship.
Weeks before the show she works with her heifer calf to lead it and "set it up"...which means having the proper foot placement( not as east as it sounds) , head up on the calf when the judge is looking...all the while maintaining control.
The kids walk their calves around a show ring....and remember these animals are very strong and sometimes put up a fight....and show how they can handle thier animal and remain calm.
The competition is today...and I am nervous. I really want to see her win but then so does every parent , right. All she can do is her best.
ANYWAY...what this post is really about is at this fair there is also an art exhibit. Rachel designed and hand sewed a mohair teddy bear from some of my scraps. She did all of this on her own. She even needle felted a muzzle, stitched a nose and mouth, and used blue German glass eyes with felt backings. The entries are judged in front of the kids so they can ask questions but the results don;t come until the next day. They inspected all the seams carefullly......and..... She won Best in Show!! We were so thrilled to see that big green and white ribbon on her bear yesterday.
So I wonder if perhaps there is a future bear artist in the making? Maybe!
Thanks for letting me go on about this...I am just excited....and nervous for today.
OKAY, I just got back from a very long hot afternoon at the County Fair and Rachel has done it!
She won Showmanship! We are so proud of her. She worked for weeks on training her heifer and her hard work has paid off. What a happy day. Thanks for letting me share this with you.
Rachel's calves name is Teemar Leap Degree, "Degree" for short. ( Our farm name is Teemar and he sire of this calf is Leap and she needed a "D" name to connect her to her cow family)
In the group photo from left to right: My step dad, my mom, me, my hubby Mark, Rachel , Joey and our star "Degree".
Baird'sBears:clap: Wow--huge congratulations to Rachael.
Genes do count 
LuxembearsAwe Thanks Eileen.
Rachel is 11 years old, by the way.
If she does not win in Showmanship today at least she has the pretty ribbon to take some of the sting out.
I'll post lots of photos on my blog after the weekend.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsCongratulations to Rachel!! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: That is wonderful. How about some pictures?
desertmountainbearYou certainly deserve to be a very proud Mom, It's moments like these that make it all worth it. Congrats to Rachel, I would love for you to post pictures so we can all give her a pat on the back
Joanne
Dolls N DreamsCongrats, tell Rachel we are very proud of her! Great job!
Baird'sBears
Only ELEVEN?
Having enough patience to make a bear and train a calf at that age is marvellous.
I hope she wins today too! And that the calf behaves itself!
Bears by EdieBig congratulations to Rachel! 
I hope she does just as well with that calf.
Past Time Bears:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: How truly wonderful for Rachel - that is terrific! I wish her well with the showmanship gig! What a stunning future she has!
PottersHouse BearsJudi,
That is wonderful for your daughter. I worked with a group of girls a couple of years ago and they entered their bears in our county fair. One of them took first place. It was so exciting for the girls. I do hope to eventually start a 4-H group again. I believe it is good for the kids.
LuxembearsThanks ladies. I am working on photos right now. I added to the first post ...she WON Showmanship. :dance: I cannot even tell you how amazing we feel right now after all her hard work. We told her before she went into the show ring that we were very very proud of her for all her hard work no matter what the outcome.
Baird'sBears:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Big :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: for Rachel and a big slobbery kiss for the marvelous calf!
Swan Valley BearsA huge congratulations to Rachael ! ! ! I know she must have put in many long hours on both endeavors and it looks like it has paid off wonderfully.
desertmountainbearCongratulations Rachel on your big day. The calf is beautiful, but the bear, the bear is just so sweet and well done. The face, with the felted muzzle and those beautiful blue eyes, on that fur, it just works very well together. The overalls are just the perfect outfit for a 4H outing. I can really see why you have done so well with him.
Joanne
Huge congratulations to Rachel on a job well done. It is indeed heart warming to see a young girl have that kind of dedication , ambition and discipline. Congrats also to her parents who have obviously done such a good job of raising her
Hugs
Gail :clap: :clap: :clap:
Past Time BearsWoohoo, Rachel . . . way to go, girl! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Congratulations to Rachel Judi!!!!!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :hug: :hug:
Matilda Huggington-beareIt is all wonderful news Judi.
I wonder though..............what's in it for the heifer?? 
FenBeary FolkHi Judi, gorgeous cow and I love the bear, she has done a fantastic job 
BUT WOW, your daughter is a special young lady, to achieve so much at 11, is remarkable, she is obviously cut from her Moms cloth
Congratulations to the talented Rachel, that is fantastic, it will be a day to remember for you always :clap: :clap: :clap:
Pauline
Sophie Z'Ours:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Judi, Rachel is amazing!
I love the photos of her you took. She looks so professional in the arena...
I really love her bear too : she chose really well colours etc.
For sure, she well deserved her awards.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Woodbury Park BearsHooray for Rachael :clap: :clap: :clap:
You rock and your calf is GORGEOUS :hug: :hug:
What a great weekend for your family Judi you must be so proud. :hug:
Raewyn
Doodlebears
Well done Rachel, you are a very amazing and talented young lady. The bear is beautiful and to win Showmanship with Degree is awesome. :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Judi you and Paul must be very proud of Rachel and rightly so too.
Hugs, Jane.
LuxembearsThank you all SO MUCH! Rachel is sleeping right now, it's about 6:30 am, but when she gets up I am going to have her read all of your comments. You will certainly make her day.
Jane, how lovely of you to make again another beautiful , how would you say, graphic tribute to Rachel. Bless you! I remember when she won for the very first time in 2006 you did that same thing. I copied it and glued a magnetic strip on the back and it is still on our fridge. The animal she won with that year died last summer while Rachel was at her side. It was terribly sad. Rachel has sure changed in two years.
Wendy...what's in it for the heifer? LOTS of cow kisses and the constant TCL all our cows always get and lets see...a few more handfuls of grain and beet pulp...and even more kisses from an adoring little ( well not so little anymore) girl. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Congratulations to Rachel clap clap 
