Ribbons, fun and a lot of experience highlighted the trip the Kaua‘i 4H members, plus their livestock, took to the State Farm Fair held at the Bishop Museum last week. Thalia Souza, Casie Kawamura, Matthew Kawamura, Peter Kawamura and Bill
Ribbons, fun and a lot of experience highlighted the trip the Kaua‘i 4H members, plus their livestock, took to the State Farm Fair held at the Bishop Museum last week.
Thalia Souza, Casie Kawamura, Matthew Kawamura, Peter Kawamura and Bill Souza were joined by their families and 4H club leaders as they took part in the livestock judging competition along with other 4H clubs from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i and Maui.
“We did really awesome,” said Thalia Souza in an e-mail. “The Kaua‘i team judging finished second with Thalia, Casie and Peter.”
Additionally, Casie earned Reserve Champion honors for individual scoring, or second place for the highest overall score.
Thalia’s lamb earned the top lamb scoring. She continued to reap honors in the Market Lamb competition, earning top Lightweight Lamb honors while Matthew finished that judging in third place. Thalia rounded out her earnings with a top placement in the Senior Showmanship judging.
Matthew finished third in the Junior Showmanship division.
Casie’s lamb competed in the Heavyweight class where she finished fifth. Casie also finished fifth in the Showmanship competition.
Thalia said, “At the state fair, they have a herdsmanship award. Herdsmanship is when you help out the other 4Hers and the other leaders and adults.”
During the fair, she said the Kaua‘i group was always picking up trash and raking the tent, resulting in Thalia picking up top honors for herdsmanship.
“I think the whole island of Kaua‘i should have gotten the award,” she said.
But Thalia was not done yet, as she earned top honors in the Overall Lamb Exhibitor based on how well the 4Her shows and place in the livestock show.
“We all had fun and got to make new friends,” Thalia said. “I want to go again next year and bring a lamb. But I’m also thinking about raising a steer.”
Dena Souza, a 4H volunteer leader, said, “It was an awesome job. It was fun to go to the state fair and represent Kaua‘i. I definitely encourage everyone to raise an animal for states next year.”
Dena said she was proud of the judging team this year.
“They did so much better than last year, and with a little effort, we should have very competitive judging teams for next year,” Dena said. “I want to get Kaua‘i’s name on the very prestigious judging plaque, soon. We have a chance.”
In addition to the performance of the judging team, Kaua‘i had a Clover bud accompany the group — Bill Souza.
“My brother Bill brought over his two fancy chickens,” Thalia said. “He’s just a Clover bug because he’s under 9 years old, but he got to ship his chickens over to O‘ahu in the evening and pick them up the next morning. Once he got to the fair, everyone fell in love with those chickens.”
Thalia said Bill got to take the chickens out and show them off to the people while talking about them.
“He was proud and quite a few people wanted baby chicks from Bill’s fancy chickens,” Dena said. “He had such a cool experience with shipping his chickens to the fair and showing them.”
Dena said the lambs were shipped to O‘ahu via Young Brothers while the chickens flew on Aloha Air Cargo.
The Kaua‘i 4H judging team and Bill will be on hand at the next livestock exhibit, show and auction which will be part of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair Aug. 28 to Aug. 31 at the Vidinha Stadium fairgrounds.
