Last Thursday

This is what the morning sun looks like in Gore.

That's 9am.

It was cold, very, very cold on stock judging national competition day - thankfully not something I organised. Lately I seem to have no idea of what I'm doing so avoiding organising stock judging was a relief.

Having said that it was cold in Gore, it was -6 degrees here last night and -4 when I woke up at 7am. Cold is a relative concept cause even though you could see your breath all day it didn't feel super cold in Gore.

Did you know people from Gore are called Gorons - Oti, you probably guessed that already.

Stock judging is a loose concept when Young Farmers are involved.

This is Shaun, he got in there and wrestled with those sheep until he could get a good idea of the ranking. He didn't get the order right.

I really struggle with recognising people when they are wearing beanies so I have no idea who this guy is but he knew how to jam those sheep against the wall with his knees. Quite impressively aggressive.

I forget that sheep are tougher than kittys.

I did have a serious conversation with Nessie about how Romneys would look better if they had dark eyelashes rather than the white woolly ones. Nessie is a serious sheep farmer but I love it when I phone her and she says "gotta go feed the sheepies". When you have opposable thumbs you control the food.

These are not sheep - don't laugh there have been incidents of alpaca/sheep confusion before.

These guys names are Edward and Jonty - the alpacas in the front (or is it alpaca, or is that another way in which they are similar to sheep?) not the guys.

First person who says aww cute gets a slap.

I can not understand what purpose alpaca have being farmed.

Really, their meat is tough, their fleece is useful but they are pregnant for a year and then the unpacking* only happens when the baby is ready. It's like the crea climbs out of the mother rather than any birth giving.

This is Goose, he is looking at this guy.

This is an Angus bull. Imagine be stuffed into the wee pen for two hours while be judged - that would give you a complex, wouldn't it though. I think that cattle have reasonable self-esteem so will survive this uncomfortable experience.

Goose won the Alpaca section by the way, not the Angus cattle section though.

Intense effort by some. The overall prize was won by a complete novice who was not trying at all. The grand prize is a week long course with CRV Ambreed.

It was a good day, especially when all the Young Farmers got back on the bus and tripped off around the country side ending up at the brewery. Some traditions are unchangeable and well organised even if stock judging was a bit loose.

*that is a the real term for alpaca giving birth. See some technical terms are fun.