Mike G wrote:Yes, the participants pay for the animal (frankly we get a deal on that, as these are very high quality lambs sold at a bargain price by a breeder who liked what he saw of the club a few years ago) and we pay for the feed and the veterinary care, but the kids (at least our kids) get the net proceeds. Last year Myles made several hundred bucks on his, this year, with lower prices at auction overall, it might be $200. The first year, with a lower quality breed, we lost a hundred or so. The kids who raise a steer can get significant college money, though, in five figures..

When I was at one of the cattle or dairy barns at the Iowa State Fair, I noted that there was a program where 4-H participants could borrow money to purchase an animal if they did not have the money (not that I am recommending debt as a means of paying for it). I did not get any specifics or a website.

Hi- Eye on Wagner Farm now has a meetup group, which has 12 members. This meetup group is private, which means that you must get permission to join it. Only members can find out when the meetings are being held.

http://eyeonwagnerfarm.com

Hi- I was just on eye on Wagner farm facebook page, and apparently the peoplethat see them picketing at Wagner, are tired of hearing about animal cruelty, and just want to know how much this program is costing taxpayers. Even if the animal rights people would have bought the animals that were destined for the fair, all the money would have gone to the 4-H group. Hope this helps, Nancy

NFriday wrote:Hi- Eye on Wagner Farm now has a meetup group, which has 12 members. This meetup group is private, which means that you must get permission to join it. Only members can find out when the meetings are being held.

Perhaps they can meet at the garage taqueria.

Hi- Well now Eye on Wagner Farm has 17 members in their meetup group. I assume that this meetup group was formed to get more people to picket on Saturday mornings. Apparently they have some new faces on the picket line. I wonder how many altercations they have had on Saturday mornings with meat eaters who want them to go away?

One of the out of towners that visited their site, suggested that a petition drive be started to try to get all 4-H groups out of the raising animals for slaughter business.

Hope this helps, Nancy

I could swear that Wagner Farm made their own ice cream, but all I see on the website is a fountain that serves Homer's. Was I misinformed? Thanks!

Hi,

I was at the Lake County Fair today to check out the livestock auction, especially Mike G's kid's pig named Thor. Mike G's kids pig sold for $3.25 a pound for a 269 pound pig was certainly beyond any market price.

Wild price escalations occur if you can get a relative or family friend to bid and purchase your animal: a 99 pound lamb sold for $15.50 per pound and a several hundred pound pig was purchased by this lad's Grandfather for $7.50 per pound.

While it was 95 degrees at the auction, they trained six-foot diameter fans to cool down the audience. It was very effective.

I once was an administrator for the 4-H pop sale at the Lake County Fair. The kids were out there selling sodapop today for $1 per 12-ounce can with water and some sport drink at $2. If you do purchase nothing else while you are there, please buy a pop from the 4-H kids.

I checked out the open class culinary department, everything looked a little worse for wear from the heat. There are not as many competitors as I once used to compete against. If they would reduce the entrant fees, they would get more activity.

There was only one old time culinary hawker preparing a meal in just 13 minutes! I love watching this guy interact with the crowd. "Who stir fries?" Hands in the crowd shoot up. "Great, what is the biggest hassle when stir frying? Yep, you're right, it is all that prep work." He then begins shaving a summer squash with a rotary slicer. He asks the crowd to define 'Honeymoon salad,' which nobody knew the joke. Answer: "Lettuce alone." I didn't stay for the whole performance. I regret a little bit, because this guy was really, really smooth.

Regards,

PSA: The Glenview Park District, via the Glenview farmers market and Wagner Farm, is offering an extremely reasonable two-hour "Jelly & Pickling" canning/food preservation class in the Wagner Farm kitchen on August 30, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Cost? $10. Can't beat that. Call Sarah Hagye @ 847.657.1506, or contact her via email at sarah.hagye@gleviewparks.org.

More on the dandy Glenview FM later via The Local Beet. Nice operation they have going out there. Highly recommended.