I really like trucks and a great big one came with a load of oats to feed all the animals.

The driver had to climb a big ladder to the top of the feed bin to fill it.

Once all the feed was in the bin I helped fill all the buckets and put them in the Gator so we could feed the animals.

I got to help feed and water the horses, donkeys, llamas, dogs, chickens, peacocks and fantail pigeons.

I got to pet one of his miniature chickens.  The rooster’s feathers felt funny.

Granddaddy even let me drive the Gator a little bit.

After I fed the miniature donkeys, I took a break.  They thought it was funny that I was in their feed trough playing with their food.  I can’t play with MY food!

Those llamas sure had big ears and big eyes.  Besides the miniature horses there were a couple of big horses, too.

While I was there Annie the Great Pyrenees dog had some puppies and they grew huge in just a few days.

These are peacocks and in the spring they grow really long tails and make a loud screech when they talk.

When we finished with the oats, then I took a break in the hay barn before we got some hay to take to all the animals.

It seems like there is always trash that the wind blows everywhere.  I helped clean up some of it.

Then I had lots of fun brushing and combing Tiny One.  She was just my size!

I got to sit on the tractor, but we didn’t get to ride on it this trip.  Maybe next time.

After we finished all our work I went in the house and told everyone that Granddaddy helped me do all the work.  Then I played with my baby sister Ella and with my Aunt Lauren and helped Grammy water her flowers.

Later in the afternoon Aunt Lauren took me fishing and LOOK WHAT I CAUGHT!  A BIG fish!

I can’t wait ’til I get to go back to Texas for another visit.  Granddaddy says we need to move there so that I can help him every day.  That would be fun.

Written and photographed with love by Granddaddy (Tony Greaves) for Grayson’s fourth birthday, 5/10/2009.

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Lauren is the President of Jack C. Hays High School FFA and was Vice-President in 2004-2005.  She is also in her second term as National President of AMHyA (American Miniature Horse Youth Association).  After attending the FFA convention in Lubbock in 2005, she came home very excited about the experience and said that we needed to have a booth at the next convention, which was to be in Ft. Worth close to the AMHA National Headquarters.  Lauren and several friends have promoted using miniatures in the FFA program and show in the county youth show against the “big” horses, and hold their own very well.

We presented the idea to the Youth Committee at AMHA, but they felt that it would be “unfair” of them to sponsor a booth at one state convention and not all of them, which they couldn’t afford.  Because Lauren was so convinced that it was an excellent opportunity that could not be missed, we decided to go ahead and do it ourselves, utilizing the booth display that AMHA had offered.  It was a wonderful experience and we gave information to thousands of people who took thousands of pictures!  There will be a poster of miniature horses in many classrooms this year when they study equine science and hopefully many FFA Horse Judging teams will attend the free judging contest at our World Show in Ft. Worth, September 29, 2006.

I think that most of the people with cell phone cameras took pictures of our 25 1/2″ mare, Little America’s It’s Mardi Gras, and her two-month-old colt, Little America’s Sterling Fantastic II. When Sterling got too tired of the crowds and the tiny stall, I took him for a walk to work out some of his excess energy and drew a crowd every time.

All set up, waiting for doors to open.

A few minutes later the fun began!

The people involved with FFA are outstanding and the service that they do for our youth is second to none.  I encourage everyone to get involved in any way that you can to support your local FFA chapter.

Lauren attended the General Sessions and learned and was inspired by many excellent speakers, including Governor Rick Perry.  We both attended the evening sessions when the Exhibit Hall was closed.  Lauren was excited to find another friend who had shown miniatures with her was in the Talent Show on Thursday night.  Below are pictures of Jeff Jenkins performing his version of “Elvis”.  The theme of the Fun Night was Nerd Out 2006 and all had a great time.

For more information about the opportunities in FFA, go to Texas FFA Association.

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