fair/show supplies

[dexterfarm]

We will be showing at the fair this year trying to think of everything we will need to take with us. Not easy to leave to get things we might forget with parking and all.
We will be taking 2 cows and their calves and will be there for 2 days. How much hay should we take with us. I don't feed squares so just not sure how much they can consume. I want them to have all they will eat, full cow = happy content cow = hopefully a cooperative cow. I have hauled cows across country over night before and they barely touch the hay on the trip. Hoping they will eat well at the fair.
We are not allowed to take in food or drinks.
So what things are a must have or just make you or your cows life easier while at a fair.

hay
halters, ropes, leads
water buckets
brush
shovel/pitchfork
camera
lawn chairs

[zephyrhillsusan]

Cows?  

[RustyRanch]

So as someone who is getting all of our fair stuff ready, here is what we bring/do.

We have a small yard sprayer that has water/bleach mix, before we bring our animals into the barn we squirt down the area they will have their head towards. Normally a feeder of some sort. Anything they can/will chew and lick gets a squirt. It takes literally 2 minutes but, we try not and get any germs from others that have been there before. Just a light spray down works.

ok now for the "stuff"
-Halters-Rope halters is what we use in the barn
-Neck ropes- all the fairs we go to require these, it is an extra for just incase then slip their halter when no one is around. You have no idea how many times I have come into the fair barn in the morning and their are cows that have slipped their halter all or partway off.
-Show Halters -that have all ready been sized and marked as to what animal they go to. Makes for an easier switch when we go into the show ring.
-Show Sticks
-Water Bucket, or I will use one of those big round laundry buckets with the rope handles, fill it up and take them to it. Lets them move around a bit, and it easier.
-Hose, with sprayer or some sort
-Wash for the animals
-Wheel Barrow, or whatever you are going to use get clean out yucky shavings in the morning and a "poop" holder that you will put the piles into throughout the day that is emptied at night.
-Shovel
-Pitch Fork
-Broom, to keep the isles clean
-Brush(es)
-Extension Cords, a short one and a long one
-Chairs
-Folding Table to have info on for people to take, or a place to set your coffee cup
-Name Sign for each animal
-Farm Sign/Info
-Display posters, that give simple quick info about Dexters or cows in general
-Any decorations you may have to just make it look neat/fun it can help bring people in and ask questions and get info about your animals

-I have a 100ft rope/cording that I use to put up behind the animals, normally from barn support post to post. This keeps people away, it blows my mind how people will just come rushing up to "pet" a cow. Or the parents that push their kids up to them!
-We have a small radio that we bring along. Normally it is me in the morning cleaning and I like to have some music.
-I also keep a small tool box that has a small hammer and assortment of nails, push pins, staple gun, extra staples, tape measurer, rubber bands, safety pins screws, and a small ratcheting screw driver that has easy changeable bits, and duct tape. Assortment of pens/writing utensils
-Then I have a small "medical" kit. It has bolaces and guns, different sizes for adult/calves. I keep some vitamin tubes, antibiotic powder that I can put in their water and have them drink if need be, pepto bismal (it helps if they get the squirts), and fly spray. I also keep hand sanitizer and people Band-Aids in there too.
-Sweatshirt and light weight blanket. It can get cold in the barn in the evenings.
I don't have one of the fancy tack boxes (yet..hint hint Hubby) but I have a big Rubbermaid tote with wheels that I keep one with all the animal stuff in and one smaller one that has some of the extra stuff in(tool boxes, hose, etc.)

As for hay, how old are the calves? How much are they eating? I would say two to three bales should be plenty. I may take three and just take one home, but would rather have more then not enough. But as you can see from above I probably take way too much stuff anyway

We also bring in a cooler that is full of water/soda/juice boxes and a coffee creamer. Then I keep a bag of snacky stuff on hand too. I also have kids, so always have some sort of snack on hand. It is strange to me they wont let you bring in that kind of stuff.

That is what I can think of off hand, hope that helps!

[RustyRanch]

The Fair Display ideas pin at the top of the section is from me. It has some pictures of our set up, it changes slightly by where we are but that is mostly the idea.