Hello all. I hope each of you are well and enjoying these wonderful days of summer.

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In today’s column, I would like to say thank you to each of you who have ever supported our young people in any way.

Our Stanislaus County Fair was this past week. I was able to attend many of the animal shows, and visit many of our young people’s exhibits inside the Fair buildings. The summer heat did show up for a couple of days, but for the most part, the weather was very comfortable.

I would usually sit in the bleachers enjoying the shade. As I sat there watching hundreds of our young people show their animals, it occurred to me that literally a huge part of Oakdale, Valley Home, and Knights Ferry were gathered right there together at the Stanislaus County Fair. Although I have been involved with 4-H and FFA for many, many years, I honestly never really realized how much our communities gathered together at the fairgrounds every July. It was an absolute joy to see our young people show their prized animals, and enter the projects and the displays that they had worked so hard on. Each young person had worked many hours to either get their projects finished and entered into the buildings or to raise an animal. For the kids raising an animal, the animals were either purchased many months ahead of the fair or they were born on the exhibitor’s ranch, and raised on that ranch. The goal is to show their animals to their very best. For those who had entries inside the buildings, their hard work paid off. There were many great exhibits inside the buildings … our kids have amazing talents. It was wonderful to take a walk over and see the ag mechanics projects, BBQ trailers, tractors, and the horticulture projects. These kids are busy all year long. For the 4-H and FFA kids that are raising animals to show at county fair it means getting up very early for months ahead of fair. It means taking care of their animals, walking them, feeding them and grooming them. Our FFA and 4-H kids are blessed to have the most amazing teachers and leaders. These adults give countless hours to our young people. I’ve had the great pleasure of watching the effects a great teacher or a great leader has on our young people. There are not enough words to express the difference these adults make in make in our children’s lives. It’s such a great tribute to see these dedicated young people and the love and appreciation they have for their leaders and teachers. It is an amazing site to see a young person tired from rising at 4:30am to be at the fair by 5:30; pens need to be cleaned by 6am and then to see that same young person leaving the fairgrounds late that evening at closing time, still with a smile on their face. Many days are very long. The kids leave late carrying their 4-H uniform or their FFA uniform home to be washed and ironed and ready for the next show day. Our young people learn responsibility and many skills by raising livestock or competing in the fair with other projects. Oakdale, Knights Ferry and Valley Home have some amazing and very talented young people; hard-working and determined. I want to send a huge “Thank you” to every family member and every friend that helped with these young people and supported them. For the 4-H kids and FFA kids that have entries in other areas besides animals it is a huge learning experience; hard work does bring great rewards. I also need to be sure to say a heartfelt “Thank you” to the folks who support the animal projects at the fair. Our young people deeply appreciate those who respond to the letters they write asking for support and they so appreciate those who support them on auction day. Special recognition to the auctioneers at the livestock sale, the auctioneers work so hard to get each livestock exhibitor top dollar.

Thank you to all who supported our kids at the fair in any way; it means more than you know.

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As always you may reach me by email at winniemullins51@gmail.com or by telephone at 209-985-5233.

Until next time, “Happy Trails to All!”