For years, my family and I have gone to stock shows in the summer. There are two main shows we love to attend. One is our State Junior Show. It is for the Polled and Horned Juniors in the state of Texas. The other is our National Junior Hereford Expo. It is held in a different city in the United States each summer in July.5
The first time I ever attended one of these was in the summer of 85. It was our state Polled Hereford Show in Hillsboro, Texas. The next summer we attended the state show and Junior Nationals. The nationals that summer was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The theme for the show was Tulsa Time '86.
With everything that has been going on in our country. I am constantly amazed by how kind, generous and giving people are in the agriculture community. You see, when a farmer grows a crop, they do not think about or worry about what person will get this food. They are worried that there won't be enough rain to get a good crop for the most food they can make and hopefully break even on the cost.
When cattleman go out in the rain, sleet, snow and even hail to feed their cattle. Or to repair fence or help a first calf heifer with that calf, they do not get the luxury of calling in sick or having a skip day. Cattleman also do not worry or think about if their beef goes to someone purple, green, yellow or blue. Cattleman worry about if their beef will bring a premium. They worry if the packers will want their cattle again and if they grade high enough. Cattleman also worry about the weather and rain to make sure they will have enough grass to feed their cows or graze in the spring and summer months.
While attending almost every Jr. National since 1986, there has been people of every race, color, background attend the show. As time goes on, more people from different cultures attended the shows and events. People amazingly get along very well. Women leave their purses in showboxes opened, kids leave boots and expensive jeans laying around all the time. People even set their coolers our and invite anyone to grab a drink out of it when thirsty. Trucks and cars are left opened and expensive fans, generators and clippers are left laying around the stalls.
There is a very rare occasion where something like a can of adhesive, or a comb comes up missing. It's easy to do when you are working fast and furious to get cattle fitted for the show and just grab what is close. No harm or no foul though from most peoples standpoint.
Recently before a national show in Kansas City where my family was at for our most recent national show, there was a drive my shooting at the fair grounds. This was even before the cattle breed before us moved into the grounds. Shots were fired into the camping area where people and their famlies would be staying. Thankfully no one was harmed.
At the end of the day, it is a fact that if you give young people something positive, constructive and productive to do with their time, then you will see a more productive adult. Young people that are given solid foundations of positive hard work that keeps them engaged will make them more productive and successful people in society. It does not have to be an agriculture related activity, although that is a great start, it can be through, sports, church, civic activities, art theater or even science club.
The important point to keep in mind is that young people need to be stimulated intellectually. They need to have interaction with other people in a positive atmosphere that creates good will towards other people. When we do that with our children, we get young people that grow up to be good to others. They respect peoples privacy, they respect peoples thoughts and ideas. They do not grow up to people that shoot into places where people might be sleeping for no reason.
Once we stop labeling each other and sorting ourselves into different classes of people, will we then be stronger as a nation. I am very proud to be part of the agriculture community and to have the opportunity to see great young men and women who will grow to up to make this country stronger.
We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.
George S. Patton
The first time I ever attended one of these was in the summer of 85. It was our state Polled Hereford Show in Hillsboro, Texas. The next summer we attended the state show and Junior Nationals. The nationals that summer was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The theme for the show was Tulsa Time '86.
With everything that has been going on in our country. I am constantly amazed by how kind, generous and giving people are in the agriculture community. You see, when a farmer grows a crop, they do not think about or worry about what person will get this food. They are worried that there won't be enough rain to get a good crop for the most food they can make and hopefully break even on the cost.
When cattleman go out in the rain, sleet, snow and even hail to feed their cattle. Or to repair fence or help a first calf heifer with that calf, they do not get the luxury of calling in sick or having a skip day. Cattleman also do not worry or think about if their beef goes to someone purple, green, yellow or blue. Cattleman worry about if their beef will bring a premium. They worry if the packers will want their cattle again and if they grade high enough. Cattleman also worry about the weather and rain to make sure they will have enough grass to feed their cows or graze in the spring and summer months.
While attending almost every Jr. National since 1986, there has been people of every race, color, background attend the show. As time goes on, more people from different cultures attended the shows and events. People amazingly get along very well. Women leave their purses in showboxes opened, kids leave boots and expensive jeans laying around all the time. People even set their coolers our and invite anyone to grab a drink out of it when thirsty. Trucks and cars are left opened and expensive fans, generators and clippers are left laying around the stalls.
There is a very rare occasion where something like a can of adhesive, or a comb comes up missing. It's easy to do when you are working fast and furious to get cattle fitted for the show and just grab what is close. No harm or no foul though from most peoples standpoint.
Recently before a national show in Kansas City where my family was at for our most recent national show, there was a drive my shooting at the fair grounds. This was even before the cattle breed before us moved into the grounds. Shots were fired into the camping area where people and their famlies would be staying. Thankfully no one was harmed.
At the end of the day, it is a fact that if you give young people something positive, constructive and productive to do with their time, then you will see a more productive adult. Young people that are given solid foundations of positive hard work that keeps them engaged will make them more productive and successful people in society. It does not have to be an agriculture related activity, although that is a great start, it can be through, sports, church, civic activities, art theater or even science club.
The important point to keep in mind is that young people need to be stimulated intellectually. They need to have interaction with other people in a positive atmosphere that creates good will towards other people. When we do that with our children, we get young people that grow up to be good to others. They respect peoples privacy, they respect peoples thoughts and ideas. They do not grow up to people that shoot into places where people might be sleeping for no reason.
Once we stop labeling each other and sorting ourselves into different classes of people, will we then be stronger as a nation. I am very proud to be part of the agriculture community and to have the opportunity to see great young men and women who will grow to up to make this country stronger.
We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.
George S. Patton
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