Farm Kids Make Good Athletes
Perhaps it stems from the years of practice running at full speed when dad would holler that the heifers have escaped the back pasture again which helps turn farm kids into excellent athletes. That I’m not sure.
What I’m a hundred percent confident in is that farm kids have what it takes to rise as leaders, and often that is seen on football fields, basketball courts and other sports arenas.
When my kids were younger, I often told my husband, Scott, that our kids are bossy. They were always yelling at their teammates about where to be or what to do. Scott smiled big and replied, “They’re not bossy. They’re just good leaders.”
Farm kids know the importance of paying attention to the boss, as well as paying attention to detail. My kids’ coaches would tell me their sports IQ was amazing. If you look at the DNA my husband and I bring to the table, you might just question how that is possible. But, when you look at how farmers have the natural ability to problem solve, critically think and assess data quickly, then it makes perfect sense how their children would also learn those traits.
The No. 1 trait farm kids have is resilience. Whether that is the overall toughness to work hard or the overall commitment to rise early and work late for a common goal. Again, these traits are what farm kids witness day in and day out. So, when the coach says work hard, it’s very unlikely that you’ll find a non-farm kid who can outwork them. The bar has been set high – and farm kids will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Whether that’s in the barn, in the field, or on the court.
Take a glance at my 17-year-old daughter Cassie’s knees and you’ll learn that she dives for every loose ball on the basketball court. Cassie is tough and she will always put a 110% into each game and each practice. Week-after-week, Cassie shows up, never complains and does everything asked of her. Her coach said what Cassie illustrates is hard to instill in people. Her ability to work hard, even when faced with adversity, is something most people don’t have in them. When the going gets tough, most people don’t get tough, they give up. Not farm kids such as Cassie.
I encourage you to look at the star players on teams across this great nation, and when you get to know more about them, more times than not, you’ll learn they learned all they needed to excel in sports from growing up on a farm.
