Going to the county fair is an experience that kids of all ages work hard for all summer long. As a fair mom, I know all too well how rewarding it is to watch your children work hard with their summer 4-H projects.
In the early days of my kids showing cows, my husband and I’s role was far greater than it is now. Kids would be on the end of a lead rope, while we spearheaded it all—teaching cows how to walk, washing and clipping them and so much more. Now, I have a bleacher view. My kids do more, while I do less.
I’ve watched my youngest son, Jacob, walk his two show heifers every day this summer. Twice a day every day, he cleans their pen, walks them, and feeds and waters them. Even when it’s raining or pushing 95 degrees.
His older sister, Cassie, has decided to only show cows, so her role is slightly different. And, our oldest son, Tyler, who is busy with football practice and working on the farm, has decided to not show any cattle at all. So, I get to watch my little guy, who isn’t that little anymore, do heifer show chores solo.
This is where I become teary-eyed. I still remember his older brother and sister helping Jacob out, as well as me and my husband. I even remember one year at State Fair, when Jacob sported show whites at 7 a.m., just so he would be ready to help in the group classes. His older siblings would tease Jacob that he wasn’t ‘actually’ showing, so they didn’t know why he was wearing white jeans. “Group classes require extra people,” he says. “I want to be ready to help out!”
And, ready he was. Even though group classes are the last classes of the day, Jacob was raring to go. While the rest of us were dirty and exhausted, Jacob held his cow’s head up high and took his role seriously.
I smile big, especially now as I see that same determination sported by my now 11-year-old son. This all reminds me the small little acts that kids are taught early on does pay off. Watching how to break a heifer to lead, water and feed cattle, and wash and clip is all hands-on learning. Nobody becomes a master overnight, but with deep-rooted passion and a can-do attitude, soon enough our kids take the lead and become the kids we always knew were inside of them.
Yes, we all know the lessons kids learn in the showring go far beyond the color of ribbon they receive. I hope my kids come home from fair completely worn out. I hope they meet a new friend. I hope they learn how to dig deep and persevere, even when they are tired and hot and finish further down the line than they hoped for. And, I hope they realize the true definition of a champion has really little to do with exhibiting the champion cow.
