At the end of a halter

At the Nebraska State Fair over the holiday weekend, I enjoyed the role of family herds "woman."  I scooped manure, fed hogs, and calmed nerves.  It was just what I needed.  A summer in the city combined with classes in the same city had me in a bit of a rut.  You see, I have been at shows, around shows, or talking about shows for my entire life.  When my mother asked me "was it worth it?" I wasn't sure what she meant.

Mom went on to explain that at 50 she has spent half of her life as a 4-H member or a 4-H mom.  She said that all 3 of us kids at some time had mentioned feeling pressured to show cattle.  I remembered that feeling.  That if I gave up on my show heifer, my parents would be disappointed.  While I always knew my parents would support any decision I made, I knew that showing cattle was different.  It's a integral part of our family culture, but was it worth it?  Was hard work, missed weekends, and busy summers worth the chance to stand at the end of a halter?

In addition to the obvious hard work, sense of accomplishment, and responsibility I learned from my projects.  I learned some more subtle things.  I learned how to think on my feet, when the judge asks a challenging question.  I learned that life is rarely fair, hard work doesn't always automatically mean success.  I learned to pick myself up out of the dirt of the show ring or life, and keep my head held high.  Standing at the end of the halter wasn't about winning or losing.  It was about life, laughter, and a love for cattle passed down for 3 generations.

One thing I know for sure, though my kids may not want to show, I want them to find the passion for something that means more than hard work and responsibility.  A passion that binds them to their friends, their family, and their world.

Jake, Jud, and Me trying on dad's cowboy gear

'till the cows come home,

Ellie