24 years and counting...

On Sunday, Dave and I went to the fair. This is our 24th year. We started showing ponies when Amber was four so that makes this our 24th year at the Iowa State Fair. We've only been to the Fair twice just to look around but, on Sunday, we did go down to see our friends show. They are Belgian people.

We first went on the sky ride so we could check out the Fair from above.

Then we walked around a bit. We went up on the hill to see the Butter Cow. This is only the second time I've ever seen the Butter Cow and I believe Dave said it was his first! Can you believe that? This year was a tribute to Dr. Seuss.

Honestly, there are just too many people for me.

I think when people think of us at the Fair, they think of someone who is seeing all the exhibits, riding the rides, eating all the food on a stick. But that is just what we don't do. In all of our years showing at the Fair, our girls never saw the midway. They didn't get far from the horse barn.

Anyway, we saw the Butter Cow, had lemonade, walked some more, had a Hot Beef Sundae at the Cattlemen's tent, walked some more and then decided it was time to head to the new exhibition arena for the horse show.

We went to watch our friends, The Robys, show their horses. Of course, part of our time at the fair, I spent walking around alone or sitting in the arena alone because Dave just cannot stay out of the barns. My allergies were bad enough so I was happy to stay put.

The Robys have two girls and their girls and our girls grew up together. Everyone always thought they were sisters. Now the oldest Roby girl has three little girls of her own. Kaylynn is the oldest, then there's Jade and the youngest is Mya. I've never seen three little girls who do not look alike in the least! Anyway, Jamie drove in the show with little Jade by her side. It made me think of Dave and Amber showing at the State Fair.

Jade's gramma tells me that Jade LOVES being a princess. She only wears dresses and she loves to dress up. So when I saw her up there on the wagon with that great big smile, that's all I could think of. I know she was in heaven up there.

I love watching a new generation out there in the ring.

♥