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Life Lessons from the Washrack

Life Lessons from the Washrack

The wash rack. It can be dirty, slippery and most of the time crowded. Have you ever thought of it as a place to learn? The things you learn in the wash rack can help you in the ring and maybe even in life. Overspray Happens – We all have made that mistake or had it made to us. Yes it can be annoying, but it’s just water so deal with it. Let the Kids do it – It is easy for me to just grab the brush and take charge of the situation. I think it is better to let the kid look for the areas that need attention…
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Don’t Mistake Confidence For Cockiness

Don’t Mistake Confidence For Cockiness

When I began raising market lambs, I knew absolutely nothing. I would have them for three months, sell them at our small town fair, and gawk at the sight of my paycheck by the end of my project. When I started developing a greater passion for showing livestock, I decided to take lambs to our county fair as well. I ended up winning my showmanship division and I was over the moon! I couldn’t believe that my first time ever showing alongside big time competitors, I was the one that rose to the top. Because this was my first big win, my parents pumped me up. A LOT. And so…
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Stock Show Dad

Stock Show Dad

He’s the last one in the barn the night before show day. The show kids need sleep, so he takes care of the last-minute jobs. Before he goes to the house, he double checks the show box making sure his favorite comb and new clipper blades are there. The show kids can’t always be trusted to put things back. He takes daily care seriously. He’s up early to feed and rinse before his farm-work or job in town begins. He’s not afraid to rouse the show kids out of bed to put in their work too. He loves a good joke and will pull one over on the show kids,…
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Champion Banners

Do it for the Banner?

If you show, you probably love trophies and banners. Actually, even athletes, scholars and artists love trophies and banners. Who doesn’t? It is pretty hard to resist that shiny hardware and colorful embroidery. In fact, the trophies and banners that I won (not many) are proudly displayed in our basement, in boxes. OK, so they aren’t really displayed, but that is my point here. At the moment that I won those awards, I don’t think I could have felt any more proud. I was so excited that someone else acknowledged my hard work and determination. That is what I needed: acknowledgement. That is what kids seek. As parents…
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"I Never Would Have Made it This Far on My Own"

"I Never Would Have Made it This Far on My Own"

“And I hope they know I never would’ve made it this far on my own. Where would we all be without those fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, the friend’s we’ve made? I wouldn’t be who I am today if not for those I’ve loved along the way.” – Eric Church This screamed out to my stock show family. I was driving to a lamb sale the other day and was in tears from hearing these words. You know how people say, “It takes a village to raise a child“? Well it definitely takes an army to raise a stock show kid! Think about it… Could you have made it…
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9 Things They Just Don't Understand

9 Things They Just Don't Understand

If you have friends that are not involved in the stock show lifestyle, these are topics you will constantly find yourself explaining to them. 1. The fact that it is perfectly normal to have best friends that live thousands of miles away from you. We all have that stock show best friend, that person you get so excited to see. Every time you do see them, it is like the “reunion of all reunions”. We met this person at NAILE or National Western, or at Jr. Nationals and this is “our person”. They just get it. No, you don’t have to see them or talk to them every day,…
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