Prize Winners from Swan View Ranch: The Story of Nelson

Nelson was born one of a set of twins on December 27, 2014 at Swan View Ranch, son of SVR1 Clint Eastwood and K1K2 Aaprina Acres Ju Ju B.

Here he is at a week old.

Here is Nelson at a week oldNelson was such a pretty boy that we had thoughts of keeping him a buck. Here he is at three weeks with his sister Nala.

Nelson w_Nala his sisterThen we got a call from a young man living in Hotchkiss, Colorado, who needed a 4-H goat to show in the Delta County Fair.

So we told him about Nelson.

Trey wanted him, so Nelson became a 4-H wether! Here are the two on their first day of meeting one another.

Trey taking Nelson to the truck
Gerald and I really looked forward to attending the Delta County Fair Goat Show and were delighted to find out that it was on a Wednesday—Gerald’s only day off work!

We would be able to go and enjoy it.

But then, as fate would have it, I was selected to serve on a jury. (What are the odds?) It was supposed to last for four days, which would have made it impossible for me to see Trey show Nelson at the fair.

I was terribly disappointed. I had so looked forward to this fair for 5 months!

Luck was on my side, though. Believe it or not, we finished with the case Wednesday at noon. Who’s ever heard of a jury wrapping up early? But so it happened, lucky for me.

I made the goat show in Hotchkiss just in time. I didn’t even miss one class as the goat judge was late coming from Denver. I can’t believe how things worked out. I was delighted to join Gerald along with Trey and his family to take part in the happy occasion.

Nelson weighed 109 pounds and was absolutely beautiful. Trey gave him a super trim job as you can see when he and Trey enter the show ring for the showmanship class.

Trey enters the show ring with NelsonThe class was so huge that they had to judge it in two waves. Trey placed in the top four in the first wave, so he and Nelson waited in a holding pen for the second wave to show their animals—22 kids and animals in all in this class of showmanship.

Trey & Nelson in holding penAfter the second wave had been judged, another five goats and kids were selected. Upon completion of the judging, Trey and Nelson placed 7th, which was exceptional in such a large class for a young man showing a goat for the first time!

On to the Market Goat class, where Nelson placed 4th in his class. Beautiful isn’t he? And look at how GREAT Trey is doing with him. Keep in mind here that the goat weighs MORE than the boy!

Trey showing NelsonProud as he can be—Trey stands with Nelson and his 4th place ribbon.

Trey & Nelson with 4th place ribbonCongratulations Trey.  You did a super job! So very glad we got to take part in it with you!

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4 Responses to Prize Winners from Swan View Ranch: The Story of Nelson

  1. Bill Hunt says:

    Mary, what a wonderful job you did on this story. It brought tears to my eyes. We appreciate so much your commitment to your goats and to the young people you will affect.
    Thanks again!

  2. Mary says:

    Thank you Bill. I really enjoy watching the kids succeed with their animals. it’s like the icing on the cake for me, and I think Trey is an exceptional young man.

  3. Diane says:

    Nelson really is gorgeous and I see why you wanted to keep him. But it was nice of you to let him go and even nicer that he had a good showing. Sometimes events work out amazingly well and seem like they are meant to be. Glad you didn’t miss the judging.

  4. Mary says:

    Thank you Diane. I was SUPER glad I didn’t miss the show. It was fantastic to see Nelson looking so beautiful and Trey doing such a great job showing him. Loved every minute of it!!

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