WEG DAY #2

I almost forgot it was Sunday, as I fell out of bed at 5AM to prepare for day #2 at WEG. (Argh, Sunday is supposed to be SLEEP-IN DAY!)

Today I got smart and didn't get to the WEG parking lot (aka. a short cut hay field) until 7AM because that's when the shuttles start running. But first I met volunteer KHC member Jenna Wild at Coldstream to carpool up to the Horse Park.

It was cold this morning (52 degrees) AND there were no signs telling you where the shuttles actually pick you up....So we just walked (and walked and walked) to the booth, a good 20 minute hike. Oh well, Americans don't get enough exercise. The Germans will love this little stroll.

Again crowds were light but started to increase around noon. (They must have gone to church first - except for those watching the competitions, who went to the Church of the Sliding Stop in the new indoor arena.)

Chris and Scott from Travelers Insurance showed up mid-morning... Did I tell you Travelers Agribusiness is our title sponsor of our booth? We'll be working on some good insurance packages for equine coverage for KHC members.

Today must have been Horse Council day, as three different Horse Council representatives stopped by: Utah, Delaware and Minnesota. All had their embroidered logo shirts on, proud to be associated with their respective Horse Councils.

Matt and Tonya from Utah are Barrel Racers (and on the side, he is an attorney and she is an equine vet), and came to watch the reining competitions. They also attended the Rood and Riddle Sport Horse Symposium on Friday. They came from somewhere hot and dry to beautiful Lexington which was --um -- hot and dry. Matt took pictures of the herds of parking attendants that were stationed about every 15 feet waving those red-tipped flashlights in your eyes, even as you are trying to wake up -- There sure was no shortage in the WEG budget on parking attendants!

The Delaware women were really enjoying themselves, although there was a slight tiff with the entrance guards who would not let them back in yesterday afternoon, after they left WEG to check into their hotel. And they had $150 Opening Ceremony tickets in their hands! But they worked it out...(never try to stop a strong horsewoman.)

The guy from Minnesota and I had a really interesting conversation about anaerobic biofuel processing for methane production: Layman's title: "Storing manure and using the smelly gases that result to provide energy." So there, Middle East! You've got more oil but we've got more poo.

Had a good chat with an Aussie guy who told me that Australia eliminated their Extension Service (budget cuts). He was a former Extension Agent and now a consultant on Ag Services. I had to ask him to pay cash for his purchases because our system didn't like the Aussie VISA, mate.

Ended the afternoon at the AllTech Experience listening to a good band. Would've had a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale but I was almost asleep already -- and I was designated driver (for Jenna). So I stuck to water.