There is a wonderful family in Central Texas that are always stating how the stock show life is Living the Dream. This is a motto that people from all walks of life can relate too. Some people cannot imagine what it is like to spend hours in a hot sweltering barn or show ring to present an animal for less than 15 minutes. Most people cannot imagine what the feeling of reward feels like after those short 15 minutes if you come out victorious.
Living the Dream encompasses so much for people in the livestock industry. It covers from purely raising breeding and replacement animals to show animals. It is a love hate relationship that most people would not give up or change. I believe Living the Dream motto can apply to many people in many situations. Whether it is sarcastic or serious, most enjoy hearing it and can relate to the statement.
Recently Dad and I went to the National Junior Hereford Expo. This is for many is exactly Living the Dream. This is one of the ultimate shows for any breed of cattle. There are more Hereford cattle here than most any other show in the country. You get to make friends with people from across the country and participate in a wonderful week of cattle life. I highly recommend attending any of these shows if they get near you or you choose to make a great trip.
The experience levels range from novice to expert at these shows and events. You have people that are the cream of the crop and those that are fresh off the farm. (Pun intended) When I was a young man I always wanted to be at the top of those classes and events. I knew it would take a long time and a lot of hard work. Going to shows like this helped open up my eyes and mind to other ideas, beliefs and ways of showing cattle. It also highlighted steps that you should not take with your cattle. The knowledge you gain is limitless and can be life changing.
We were not people of means and still aren't. We live very low key lives and I grew up in what I believe were humble beginnings. Our barns at home were built by us, had NO COOLER ROOM's, were filled with hay, feed, cattle and lots of fans and misters. We used to love to find the old squirrel cage fans at markets or sales to add to the barn. They worked great. We bought cattle we could afford and worked up to raising our own. We were lucky with some of the cattle we purchased and happened to be at the right place at the right time.
There were many hours spent in the barn, feeding, rinsing, blowing and working hair. There were hours spent in the backseat of a truck on your way to the next show or on the long trip to nationals. All this time builds who you are as a person. It builds your character and helps you grow as a person. There are many activities we put kids through that help with this as well. All the activities in 4-H and FFA build you to be a better person. The marketing skills, leadership development helps give you abilities that will last you a life time.
Now it's not always sunshine and roses while Living the Dream. Many times you fail at a task. You get defeated and don't know if you want to get back up. There are times when you get taken by someone who prays on the naive in the livestock business. Sadly that happens and there is no way to police it or know if you have been prayed upon until it's over. This happens a lot to people new in the business. My word of advice for those starting out. Listen to all, believe only a few. You should always take someones advice and apply it to the situation.
Some people are honestly not a good judge of character. A lot of people have had laps in good judgement, most of us can look at our Ex's and see those bad choices. The other side of that coin is some get laser focused on one group or way of doing something and they have blinders on. They cannot see past what that person or group says. It's almost as if it's the "Gospel" of livestock. I think a lot of people have been sucked into those traps at one time or another. We hear how great a new product is or some new brush is advertised and we just know it's the best thing since sliced bread.
While at a cattle show I always like to go watch how the "top fitters" are getting the livestock ready. I tend to ask questions and then see if it applies to what I am doing with my cattle. When I was younger I use to watch the steps people took to get their cattle to look so good. I knew I could do it, so I practiced and learned to do it myself. Since we were people of modest means we would always look for the more cost effective ways to make our cattle look good. Surprisingly there were a number of the larger breeders and more successful that did the same. They did not buy all the new fad items or products. They used rice root brushes, a steel scotch combs, and a plastic scrub brush to work hair. They used joy dish soap and women's hair conditioner to make their cattle look top notch.
They were innovative in the way they looked at the new products and to see how they can apply that without paying, $100 for a gallon of hair product. They looked at the new combs to see what they could get from Wal-Mart or Sally Beauty Supply and get the same results. These principles can be and have been applied to feeding and minerals for your animals.
The only key to success that I have ever known is hard work and dedication. You have to be dedicated to the right feeding program, right routine to work the animals to get them ready for the show ring. You have to have the heart of a warrior and the drive to win.
While attending the recent national show I had the pleasure to watch young people from all over the country. They all had hearts of warriors and the drive to win. Luckily one young lady had the esteem honor of taking an orphaned calf to the top of her class against cattle from all over the country. A calf that she has spent hours feeding and caring for while doing all her other chores on their family farm. This to me is one of the greatest achievements you can have showing livestock. When you take the time to raise the animal yourself. The worth of that animal is almost priceless.
This is what I call Living the Dream. You get to do what you love for an entire week before heading back to reality. People get to renew friendships or make new ones from others from all across this great country. It is also allows for people who have a hard time coming out of their shells, break out into bright young stars on a national stage.
No matter what Living the Dream means to you and your family. You should always know that many roads and paths are taken to get the top. You don't always know what is coming ahead of you and that is okay. The journey to the top makes you a better person.
"If you can dream it, you can do it." ~ Walt Disney
Living the Dream encompasses so much for people in the livestock industry. It covers from purely raising breeding and replacement animals to show animals. It is a love hate relationship that most people would not give up or change. I believe Living the Dream motto can apply to many people in many situations. Whether it is sarcastic or serious, most enjoy hearing it and can relate to the statement.
Recently Dad and I went to the National Junior Hereford Expo. This is for many is exactly Living the Dream. This is one of the ultimate shows for any breed of cattle. There are more Hereford cattle here than most any other show in the country. You get to make friends with people from across the country and participate in a wonderful week of cattle life. I highly recommend attending any of these shows if they get near you or you choose to make a great trip.
The experience levels range from novice to expert at these shows and events. You have people that are the cream of the crop and those that are fresh off the farm. (Pun intended) When I was a young man I always wanted to be at the top of those classes and events. I knew it would take a long time and a lot of hard work. Going to shows like this helped open up my eyes and mind to other ideas, beliefs and ways of showing cattle. It also highlighted steps that you should not take with your cattle. The knowledge you gain is limitless and can be life changing.
We were not people of means and still aren't. We live very low key lives and I grew up in what I believe were humble beginnings. Our barns at home were built by us, had NO COOLER ROOM's, were filled with hay, feed, cattle and lots of fans and misters. We used to love to find the old squirrel cage fans at markets or sales to add to the barn. They worked great. We bought cattle we could afford and worked up to raising our own. We were lucky with some of the cattle we purchased and happened to be at the right place at the right time.
There were many hours spent in the barn, feeding, rinsing, blowing and working hair. There were hours spent in the backseat of a truck on your way to the next show or on the long trip to nationals. All this time builds who you are as a person. It builds your character and helps you grow as a person. There are many activities we put kids through that help with this as well. All the activities in 4-H and FFA build you to be a better person. The marketing skills, leadership development helps give you abilities that will last you a life time.
Now it's not always sunshine and roses while Living the Dream. Many times you fail at a task. You get defeated and don't know if you want to get back up. There are times when you get taken by someone who prays on the naive in the livestock business. Sadly that happens and there is no way to police it or know if you have been prayed upon until it's over. This happens a lot to people new in the business. My word of advice for those starting out. Listen to all, believe only a few. You should always take someones advice and apply it to the situation.
Some people are honestly not a good judge of character. A lot of people have had laps in good judgement, most of us can look at our Ex's and see those bad choices. The other side of that coin is some get laser focused on one group or way of doing something and they have blinders on. They cannot see past what that person or group says. It's almost as if it's the "Gospel" of livestock. I think a lot of people have been sucked into those traps at one time or another. We hear how great a new product is or some new brush is advertised and we just know it's the best thing since sliced bread.
While at a cattle show I always like to go watch how the "top fitters" are getting the livestock ready. I tend to ask questions and then see if it applies to what I am doing with my cattle. When I was younger I use to watch the steps people took to get their cattle to look so good. I knew I could do it, so I practiced and learned to do it myself. Since we were people of modest means we would always look for the more cost effective ways to make our cattle look good. Surprisingly there were a number of the larger breeders and more successful that did the same. They did not buy all the new fad items or products. They used rice root brushes, a steel scotch combs, and a plastic scrub brush to work hair. They used joy dish soap and women's hair conditioner to make their cattle look top notch.
They were innovative in the way they looked at the new products and to see how they can apply that without paying, $100 for a gallon of hair product. They looked at the new combs to see what they could get from Wal-Mart or Sally Beauty Supply and get the same results. These principles can be and have been applied to feeding and minerals for your animals.
The only key to success that I have ever known is hard work and dedication. You have to be dedicated to the right feeding program, right routine to work the animals to get them ready for the show ring. You have to have the heart of a warrior and the drive to win.
While attending the recent national show I had the pleasure to watch young people from all over the country. They all had hearts of warriors and the drive to win. Luckily one young lady had the esteem honor of taking an orphaned calf to the top of her class against cattle from all over the country. A calf that she has spent hours feeding and caring for while doing all her other chores on their family farm. This to me is one of the greatest achievements you can have showing livestock. When you take the time to raise the animal yourself. The worth of that animal is almost priceless.
This is what I call Living the Dream. You get to do what you love for an entire week before heading back to reality. People get to renew friendships or make new ones from others from all across this great country. It is also allows for people who have a hard time coming out of their shells, break out into bright young stars on a national stage.
No matter what Living the Dream means to you and your family. You should always know that many roads and paths are taken to get the top. You don't always know what is coming ahead of you and that is okay. The journey to the top makes you a better person.
"If you can dream it, you can do it." ~ Walt Disney
Loved it! Great seeing you all there!
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