Poultry and Rabbits and Lambs! Oh, MY!

Just like in Hollywood, the stars are pampered, groomed, and temperamental; except here they're of the four-legged or feathered variety.

Since 1876, the Mayfair has hosted friendly, though intense competition for prizes awarded to handlers and trainers of cows, horses, poultry, hogs and a varied menagerie of farm animals.

“A Dixon May Fair prize means a lot; we work for it all year long,” said Shannon Myers, who has cared for her black Suffolk lamb Tinkerbell for nine months leading up to the showcasing and auction events that'll take place this weekend. In addition to feeding, grooming, exercising and training Tinkerbell, Myers said she learned a lot about human relationships as well. Myers, a member of the Dixon Future Farmers of America, became a mentor to Sierra Solbrack, who happens to belong to the Roving Clovers chapter of the Dixon-area 4-H. Though the two groups are long-time rivals, Myers and Solbrack became friends.

“That's the great thing about the agricultural community around Dixon,” said Lloyd McCabe, a certified May Fair exhibition judge, “is that there's a good set of kids out there helping each other.”

In fact, many of the contestants are city kids living in Vacaville, Davis, Winters, Woodland and Dixon. McCabe said farmers such as himself and several others around Dixon offer space in their barns and fields for the youths' animals.

“It's a real positive experience when these city kids come out and spend some time on the farm,” McCabe said.

Sometimes when dealing with a stubborn or panicked animal in the hectic scene in the Mayfair livestock pavilions, the 4-H and FFA kids need all the help they can get.

On the way from her pen to the judging arena, Tinkerbell suddenly dug in her front hoofs, kicked out the back ones, shook all over and refused to move an inch further. Several concerned Future Farmers gathered around. But Myers expertly eased her hand under Tinkerbell's jaw, whispered a few soft words and the lamb became lamb-like again.

“It's pretty stressful for these guys here in the livestock pens,” Myers said, “but they like looking their best, I think. Especially Tinkerbell.”

A big turnout is expected for the Junior Livestock auction, slated for 11:30a.m., Saturday, and the Supreme Showmanship Events on Sunday, 9 a.m., and 11 a.m., so come early and make sure you get a seat in the bleachers beside the exhibition arena.

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