Showing posts with label Livestock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Livestock. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Proud Mommy
Tonight my children exhibited their lambs at our county livestock shows. Our county is one of the most competitive in the state...so winning it is a big deal. This year my two darling children did not just win it, but they dominated it. My daughter is nine years old, so this is the first year she has been allowed to participate at the county show. She is an official 4-Her. She walked into the ring determined to win. She had Reserve Breed Champion Southdown and Reserve Breed Champion Suffolk...she shined in the ring. Then her big brother (who is a senior) decided to go out with a bang. He had Breed Champion Shrop and Breed Champion Cross...then he did something that I have not seen in the eleven years my husband has been teaching in this county happen in the sheep barn and only once in the swine barn...he won Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Lamb. It was so exciting watching his face light up. This was the third year in a row that he has won Grand Champion. He was so excited. He works so hard, so it was the reward for all of his, his sister's, and his father's hard work. They work so well as a team and tonight they won as a team. Then to make my day even more perfect, a lady that I don't really know stopped me as I was walking through the barn. She wanted to tell me that I had polite, well-behaved children that were a joy to be around. She informed me that I should be proud of them...I told her I was. And I am! I am very blessed to have all three of them in my life!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Death in the Barn
As most of you know, we show lambs. My son began his 4-H and FFA career as a cloverbud in 4-H when he was 4. His father came home with two gilts (female swine) that quickly became my son's best friends. Over the years, we have replaced them with numerous other show animals. A little over four years ago, my son convinced his father that showing lambs was in his future. He quickly learned that taking care of lambs is harder than swine. They require a different type of work and they become ill faster than swine.
This year we all worked hard to prepare for the end of our show season. The last show for us is in mid March at Oklahoma Youth Expo. Attending the show is like going to a family reunion for our family. We are excited about seeing old friends and making new ones. This year we had worked hard for this event. Days before the show, our animals became ill. One would not eat, one acted as if the drench was making it ill, and one just seemed to stop growing. All year we had worked hard for this event and the lambs seemed to want to quit. My husband rallied his troops and went in search for the best way to fix the problems. And his seemed to be winning the fight.
On show day, the lamb that my son loved was out of sorts. He would stand in the pen with his head down. He seemed to be retaining gas. You could just tell he was not feeling well. The vet prescribed some medicine. We thought things were better. He showed in the cross drive and placed fourth. Then tragedy happened. He went back to the pen and would not get up. After begging, pleading, and prodding; my son was able to get him up. He took three steps down the aisle and fell down and died. The tears and sobbing coming from my 17 year old son was awful. This lamb was like his favorite pet. I quickly removed him from the scene and went into mommy mode. I worked to find a silver lining in the cloud. After calming him down and leaving him with friends, I returned to the stalls to find my 8 year old in tears. She watched as OYE employees placed the lamb in a trash can. She kept repeating "He has a face, he has a name, and he is our pet. Pets don't belong in trash cans." Once again mommy mode took over. How do you explain to an 8 year old that this is a fact of life? How do you make it better? The drive home from the barn was the hardest ever. My kids lost something they loved. They both also lost some of their innocence in that barn. I hope that other show families don't have to go through what we went through.
This year we all worked hard to prepare for the end of our show season. The last show for us is in mid March at Oklahoma Youth Expo. Attending the show is like going to a family reunion for our family. We are excited about seeing old friends and making new ones. This year we had worked hard for this event. Days before the show, our animals became ill. One would not eat, one acted as if the drench was making it ill, and one just seemed to stop growing. All year we had worked hard for this event and the lambs seemed to want to quit. My husband rallied his troops and went in search for the best way to fix the problems. And his seemed to be winning the fight.
On show day, the lamb that my son loved was out of sorts. He would stand in the pen with his head down. He seemed to be retaining gas. You could just tell he was not feeling well. The vet prescribed some medicine. We thought things were better. He showed in the cross drive and placed fourth. Then tragedy happened. He went back to the pen and would not get up. After begging, pleading, and prodding; my son was able to get him up. He took three steps down the aisle and fell down and died. The tears and sobbing coming from my 17 year old son was awful. This lamb was like his favorite pet. I quickly removed him from the scene and went into mommy mode. I worked to find a silver lining in the cloud. After calming him down and leaving him with friends, I returned to the stalls to find my 8 year old in tears. She watched as OYE employees placed the lamb in a trash can. She kept repeating "He has a face, he has a name, and he is our pet. Pets don't belong in trash cans." Once again mommy mode took over. How do you explain to an 8 year old that this is a fact of life? How do you make it better? The drive home from the barn was the hardest ever. My kids lost something they loved. They both also lost some of their innocence in that barn. I hope that other show families don't have to go through what we went through.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
One Week in My Life
This week has been so busy. So I thought I would start at the beginning.
Monday-Valentine's Day--this is one of our party days at school. First, I want to go on record that any week that starts with a party is doomed from the beginning, especially a party filled with red food coloring! I was given lots of treats by my kids. My husband and children sent me a Dr. Pepper bouquet. Yes, no traditional flowers for me! I got a bouquet filled with 8 oz bottles of Dr. Pepper, candy, and balloons. Does my husband know my weakness or what?
Tuesday-I have duty each morning this week. That means I have to be at school at least twenty minutes early. I was running late on Tuesday and felt that way all week. I hate being late.
Wednesday-Parent/teacher meeting-- This meeting was special. The little girl is a doll and her mother wants so bad to do what is best for her. We met to discuss getting her some special help, but I left sad. I think that sometimes we are not servicing the child when we don't help the parents. I think that for social services and DHS to work, they need to be in the school. I walked away from the meeting with a burden to help the mother. She wants to make a better life for her child, but doesn't know how.
Then after school I raced to the district livestock show. My son was reserve breed Hampshire. I love watching him show. It is an amazing feeling when I see him have success at something. After he showed his first sheep, I discovered that I had made a BIG mistake on his proficiency award application. I couldn't get the internet to work at the barn, so I had to drive 30 + minutes home and spend an hour working on it. I was so mentally drained by the time the boys pulled in to the house, but I wasn't done. I had to go out to the barn and help unload sheep and medicate them. I accidently stabbed my husband with a needle full of sheep medicine. He was a good sport about it (I wouldn't have been!) Needless to say, I fell into bed exhausted.
Thursday--I spent the day in a fog. I can't seem to shake a headache I have had for the last three days. My day was rough. One of my students spent the day crying about everything. On days like this, I don't think I am a very good teacher. At the end of the day, three little darlings got away from a sub and ran out to their bus. While they were never in any super danger, the experience scared me to death. I shook all night long imagining the worst case scenario.
Friday—The crier from Thursday was pumped. His birthday party was Friday night. I spent my day dragging him back to the ground. My son went to a power lifting meet and placed 3rd in his weight division. I am amazed that this kid can lift anything. A year ago we were told he would never play sports again. We were told that he would have to have surgery on his knee, but God had another plan. He sent us to a wonderful physical therapist that worked wonders. She is the reason that he is able to do so much.
Saturday—Today is the big day. My 8 year old daughter has been waiting for months for a chance to sign up for soccer. Today that is the day that it is going to happen. I just hope it is her sport and she loves it as much as she thinks she will! I will keep you posted!
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Monday-Valentine's Day--this is one of our party days at school. First, I want to go on record that any week that starts with a party is doomed from the beginning, especially a party filled with red food coloring! I was given lots of treats by my kids. My husband and children sent me a Dr. Pepper bouquet. Yes, no traditional flowers for me! I got a bouquet filled with 8 oz bottles of Dr. Pepper, candy, and balloons. Does my husband know my weakness or what?
Tuesday-I have duty each morning this week. That means I have to be at school at least twenty minutes early. I was running late on Tuesday and felt that way all week. I hate being late.
Wednesday-Parent/teacher meeting-- This meeting was special. The little girl is a doll and her mother wants so bad to do what is best for her. We met to discuss getting her some special help, but I left sad. I think that sometimes we are not servicing the child when we don't help the parents. I think that for social services and DHS to work, they need to be in the school. I walked away from the meeting with a burden to help the mother. She wants to make a better life for her child, but doesn't know how.
Then after school I raced to the district livestock show. My son was reserve breed Hampshire. I love watching him show. It is an amazing feeling when I see him have success at something. After he showed his first sheep, I discovered that I had made a BIG mistake on his proficiency award application. I couldn't get the internet to work at the barn, so I had to drive 30 + minutes home and spend an hour working on it. I was so mentally drained by the time the boys pulled in to the house, but I wasn't done. I had to go out to the barn and help unload sheep and medicate them. I accidently stabbed my husband with a needle full of sheep medicine. He was a good sport about it (I wouldn't have been!) Needless to say, I fell into bed exhausted.
Thursday--I spent the day in a fog. I can't seem to shake a headache I have had for the last three days. My day was rough. One of my students spent the day crying about everything. On days like this, I don't think I am a very good teacher. At the end of the day, three little darlings got away from a sub and ran out to their bus. While they were never in any super danger, the experience scared me to death. I shook all night long imagining the worst case scenario.
Friday—The crier from Thursday was pumped. His birthday party was Friday night. I spent my day dragging him back to the ground. My son went to a power lifting meet and placed 3rd in his weight division. I am amazed that this kid can lift anything. A year ago we were told he would never play sports again. We were told that he would have to have surgery on his knee, but God had another plan. He sent us to a wonderful physical therapist that worked wonders. She is the reason that he is able to do so much.
Saturday—Today is the big day. My 8 year old daughter has been waiting for months for a chance to sign up for soccer. Today that is the day that it is going to happen. I just hope it is her sport and she loves it as much as she thinks she will! I will keep you posted!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Just Waiting...
This week I find myself just waiting. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I am just waiting for my teenager to get home, so I can sleep. I am just waiting till payday, so I can pay my bills. I am just waiting to buy a book until my favorite author comes out with her newest. I am waiting for my students to finish and master a skill before I teach another. Sometimes, I seem to be just waiting for the next event in my life to take place.
Today I am just waiting to see how our trip to Denver turns out. My son's best sheep ran into something and now he is limping. Because of the rules, we are unable to give the lambs medicine to help them heal. So watching him limp is hurting us, too. This made me think of my own children. As they get older, I at times watch them limp through life making choices that are not the best for them. I watch them choose friends that don't have the character that I want them to have. My son, more so than my daughter, has the ability to collect misfits like most people collect souvenirs. He tries to be a friend to all that he meets. As a mother, it hurts watching him set himself up for pain. But there are times, when I see him not only succeed...but rescue a soul. So while waiting can be exhausting, it sometimes is the only course we have.
Today I am just waiting to see how our trip to Denver turns out. My son's best sheep ran into something and now he is limping. Because of the rules, we are unable to give the lambs medicine to help them heal. So watching him limp is hurting us, too. This made me think of my own children. As they get older, I at times watch them limp through life making choices that are not the best for them. I watch them choose friends that don't have the character that I want them to have. My son, more so than my daughter, has the ability to collect misfits like most people collect souvenirs. He tries to be a friend to all that he meets. As a mother, it hurts watching him set himself up for pain. But there are times, when I see him not only succeed...but rescue a soul. So while waiting can be exhausting, it sometimes is the only course we have.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
It's Show Time!
My children are active in FFA and 4-H. It is a big part of our lives. We spend a lot of time and money supporting our local chapters. As a child, I was a member of the local 4-H Club. I gave speeches, did demonstrations, built projects, learned to cook, and participated with many different activities. But being raised in town, showing livestock was not part of my 4-H experience. So when I married my husband, a FFA advisor, I quickly learned that his job translated into us spending our weekends at livestock shows. I would visit my grandparents' farm as a child, but spending time with the animals was just a quick visit to the pen and throwing food into a trough.
When our son was 5 years old, my husband came home with two gilts (for those non-farm people--that is two female pigs). These animals were to become my son's first show projects. Betty and Wilma became the center of our lives. Not only did they have to be fed more than once a day, they had to be walked, watered, kept cool, and bathed on a regular bases. Over the years, I have learned the best way to bathe a hog without being soaked. I have learned to give show hogs shots without hurting them. I have even learned to read ear notches (the system used by breeders to tell the litter and birth order of each pig).
Three years ago, my husband and son threw me a curve ball. They decided that we needed to start showing lambs. I had never been around lambs. What I knew about lambs, I had learned in the Bible. After the first adorable little lamb was unloaded off the trailer, I thought this will be a piece of cake. Boy, was I wrong!!! Lambs are the dumbest animals on earth. They don't seem to learn from mistakes. My son was able to train several of his show hogs like you would dogs; but the sheep don't have the intelligence to learn simple tasks. So preparing for livestock shows with sheep require hours of work. Each morning someone has to get up before dawn to feed them before work and school. Then after school they have to be walked, both on the walker and by a person. Then there is time setting them up and teaching them to brace. Then another feeding time. They are a delicate animal. They have to be watched and guarded.
Show season is here! Now it is time to reap the benefits of all our hard work. Showing livestock is a group effort. All of us have jobs before showing, during the shows, and afterwards. But watching my children walk into the ring and walking out with a blue ribbon makes it all worth while. We went to a livestock show this weekend. I was able to watch my son walk away with the Reserve Grand Champion ribbon. By the end of the week, we will be traveling to Denver, Colorado to compete in the National Western Stock Show. Last year we were lucky enough to earn a Reserve Breed Champion banner. This year we hope to be just as successful. Say a prayer for us as we travel to Colorado with our children and animals. I will keep you posted.
When our son was 5 years old, my husband came home with two gilts (for those non-farm people--that is two female pigs). These animals were to become my son's first show projects. Betty and Wilma became the center of our lives. Not only did they have to be fed more than once a day, they had to be walked, watered, kept cool, and bathed on a regular bases. Over the years, I have learned the best way to bathe a hog without being soaked. I have learned to give show hogs shots without hurting them. I have even learned to read ear notches (the system used by breeders to tell the litter and birth order of each pig).
Three years ago, my husband and son threw me a curve ball. They decided that we needed to start showing lambs. I had never been around lambs. What I knew about lambs, I had learned in the Bible. After the first adorable little lamb was unloaded off the trailer, I thought this will be a piece of cake. Boy, was I wrong!!! Lambs are the dumbest animals on earth. They don't seem to learn from mistakes. My son was able to train several of his show hogs like you would dogs; but the sheep don't have the intelligence to learn simple tasks. So preparing for livestock shows with sheep require hours of work. Each morning someone has to get up before dawn to feed them before work and school. Then after school they have to be walked, both on the walker and by a person. Then there is time setting them up and teaching them to brace. Then another feeding time. They are a delicate animal. They have to be watched and guarded.
Show season is here! Now it is time to reap the benefits of all our hard work. Showing livestock is a group effort. All of us have jobs before showing, during the shows, and afterwards. But watching my children walk into the ring and walking out with a blue ribbon makes it all worth while. We went to a livestock show this weekend. I was able to watch my son walk away with the Reserve Grand Champion ribbon. By the end of the week, we will be traveling to Denver, Colorado to compete in the National Western Stock Show. Last year we were lucky enough to earn a Reserve Breed Champion banner. This year we hope to be just as successful. Say a prayer for us as we travel to Colorado with our children and animals. I will keep you posted.
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