I’m a farm girl, and a former card carrying 4-H member. On my childhood dairy farm there were always cats, kittens and dogs running amok. I loved watching over them, and playing pretend mom with the mostly tolerant kittens, and making cat toys from baler twine and whatever I could find.

During the summer, I was always preparing something - or some being - for the county fair. When I was young I learned how to lead a calf with a halter, graduating to yearlings and then full grown cows as I grew (sort of) in stature. Thankfully, since our animals were dairy and not beef breeds, none of my animals were sold at the fair auction. I remember watching my fellow 4-H friends sobbing as they parted ways with their summer pets, knowing full well where their beloved pets were headed next. I shudder even now to think of it. That was tough.

For a time, I thought it was cool to exhibit my pet cat Toby at the fair. I have no idea why, really. It was so not anywhere near cool, but then, neither was I! Toby and I had a brief moment in the sun in the early 80’s, when he was duly judged by a cat judge (yes, it’s a thing) and crowned Prince of the Cats at the Trempealeau County Fair.

Lest you think I am making this up to leverage the aforementioned cool factor, I assure you I am not. That’s me, holding Toby in his prince crown and cape. I dug this up from my box of 4-H ephemera. There’s a lot of nerd material in there! I may share more on future blogs.

I’ve gotten contacts, and then regressed to needing cheaters, since this photo was taken. I went to college and got a series of “real” jobs. But passion for animals and photography remain constant, right along with my never cool nerdy ways. Quiet sigh. Pass the library card.