The State Fair of Louisiana is under way in Shreveport, La., and we are too close not to spend one or more days at the fair.

If you have not attended in a number of years you will be pleased with the way the fair is managed and opportunities it offers. Louisiana Cattlemen's Association operates the Cattleman's Kitchen near the center of the fair and has great beef and steaks. The fair is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and will close Nov. 8.

We have been told we will have one day this week without rain and that is Saturday, Halloween. If we only get one that is a good because Nesbitt Volunteer Fire Department will have its Annual Turkey Shoot at Nesbitt Station No. 3 starting at 10 a.m. They will have catfish lunch with all the trimmings.

On this same day Marshall Metro Rotary Club will have a Pancake Breakfast fund-raiser from 8 to 10 a.m. at Applebee's. Tickets are $5 and you can get them at the door or call 903-927-5961.

First Baptist Church in Waskom will have a Fall Festival on Halloween from 5 to 7 p.m. with lots of games for the children, food, activities and fun for all.

It is time to arrange for firewood even with all the rain, we have had a few nights a fire in the fireplace would have felt good. Be sure to tell the provider what length you want plus it is always better to have split wood unless you are cutting your own and the round is easier. An annual reminder, don't buy wood by the pickup load, measure it out.

"While knowledge is the greatest tool, self discipline is second." This statement comes from Trey Talley in his book "Teenage Construction Zone."

Talley was on the Team Impact that had a three day program at First Baptist Church in Waskom last week and lives were changed. Should you have an opportunity to hold a program with this group of individuals, don't let the opportunity go by. Get a copy of Talley's book by calling 512 695 8909.

The recent Hays Brothers Angus Fall Gathering Auction in Arcadia, La., averaged $2,800 on 40 bulls and a bit over $1,000 a head on 500 head of bred Brangus-type females. A number of the bred females came back to Harrison County. Each year Hayes Brothers develops a group of their replacement females in Harrison County.

"You can't hold a man down without staying down with him."

This is your last call to order your pecans (halves or pieces) from Harrison County 4-H Clubs. It actually ended yesterday but call this morning as I am sure you can still order some. Call 903-935-8413 this morning.

The most important garden tip for the fall of 2009 is "wait." You never have maximum results when gardening in the mud. We are privileged to have a long and mild fall-winter usually so there will be time for some greens this winter.

The most important action we can take with the weather we are having is to identify the spots in the landscape that hold water and plan on needed drainage or building up the level of the surface if drainage is possible that is the better route.

Cattle calving in our weather this fall have a tough time getting started as this is pneumonia weather.

We may need to follow advice from the cattlemen up north who calve in a small pasture near a barn and get the newborn and its mother out of the weather. It is more trouble but if you lose a calf there is no way to make back that loss in the life of most cows.

"The church is a society of sinners who finally admitted it."

It will dry up some day and when it does we are going to have our pastures in the best condition they have been in years if you have been controlling the weeds and fertilizing some.

The F1 female bred to herd improving bulls will produce the heaviest calf in the least amount of time. On Nov. 14 at Hays Brothers Angus Ranch Arena in Arcadia, La., B&B Ranch will be selling at auction 250 head of 2-4 year old F1 females and 150 head of 5-7 year old tiger striped females (approximately 100 pairs by sale day). All are bred to Angus bulls. Call Dusty Taylor at 318-245-8800 for a catalog and details.

Remember to set your clock back an hour on Sunday morning so you won't get to church an hour early.