Stock Show Family: 7 Reasons to be Thankful

Your stock show family may live close by or a few states away. Maybe you see them at every local county fair or only a few times a year at Junior Nationals and a major.   Over the time you’ve spent showing you’ve bonded.  You count on them.  You look forward to being with them.  They’re part of your life, your circle.  They’re your stock show family. Here are 7 reasons to be thankful for your stock show family. 

1. They See You at Your Best

You just won Supreme Champion.  Your kid just won showmanship.  Your junior livestock judging team just beat a bunch of senior teams.  You’re beaming with pride, excited, and fist-bumping, grinning with your banner.  Your stock show family is there, too.  They’re grinning, too, standing proudly behind your champion animal in your champion backdrop photo.  They aren’t jealous (not much, anyway) because they’ve had their turn with the banner and’ll be there again. Your livestock show family is proud of and excited for you. 

Girl-Child once won a tough Grand Champion drive. Excited, I smacked the person beside me on the rear end… and it wasn’t MyFarmer. Those years of high school sports have really stayed with me. But it was ok, she’s stock show family. We just laughed, high-fived, and went to congratulate the Champion.

The top 5 in Senior Showmanship. Then, they had to compete against each other for the buckle.

2. They Still Love You at Your Worst

We all love showing livestock, but admittedly, some days are stressful, tiring, or just plain irritating.  The early mornings and late nights when you stay at the barn until midnight loading the trailer just to get up before 5:00 a.m. to go to the show. The heifer that walks through the entry gate and acts like a fool who’s never been in the ring before.  The kid at the wash rack wielding his water hose like he’s working the water ride at Dollywood.  You’re soaked, tired, frustrated, and your attitude is starting to reflect it.  

Your stock show family is there through it all.  They may try to calm you down, offer a change of clothes, or crack a joke. They may just steer clear.  But they love you through it all.  They know this too shall pass, and you’ll be pleasant again soon.  They know they’ll eventually be cranky, wet, and tired – and you will be there for them.

A few years ago at State Fair, BoyChild had an uncharacteristically rough go in showmanship. When he came out of the ring, he was frustrated with his heifer and mad at himself. MyFarmer, BoyChild, and I walked back to the stall, but nobody said a word. We knew it wasn’t the time to talk about it. After caring for the heifer, BoyChild returned to the ring to watch his buddies, who had made it into the final showmanship drive. It wasn’t long before I noticed a herd of stock show family kids surrounding him, cheering him up. They also probably teased him a bit, but they knew what he needed at that moment, and they were there for him.

3. There Are Eyes Everywhere

This one is for the stock show parents.  There are eyes on your kids everywhere.  There’s something about a fair that turns kids into fun-craving little monkeys, climbing gates and panels, running and wrestling in shavings. Stock show kids have fun. Sometimes, though, that wrestling can get too rough.  The climbing can get too high.  That fun can tend to go too far.  Sometimes, when that happens, the parents aren’t right there.  That’s where your stock show family comes in.  Other moms and dads are there to reel in the wayward children, calm things down, redirect, or straight up threaten kids into behaving.

After one of the final jackpots of the summer show season, a bunch of kids were climbing on an announcer’s stand like a jungle gym. Suddenly, a fellow stock show mom, appeared amid the chaos and declared, “If I know your momma, you better get down! Now!”  Those kids scattered like roaches when the lights come on.  Well, the ones in our show family, anyway.  They knew she meant business.  They didn’t question whether to obey her or not.  That was just as good as their own mom telling them to do something.  When you are part of a stock show family, you have your mom and your “other moms.”  Sorry, kids, there are eyes everywhere! 

Just a stock show mom digging poop out of the ear of a child who is not her son.

4. You Can Count On Each Other

Sports teammates share everything: water bottles, rides to the game, equipment.  Sharing for them makes perfect sense.  They’re part of a team. At a stock show, the people around you are your competition, including your stock show family, who can often be your biggest competition.  Still, just like a family, we help each other. Stock show families help fit each other’s cattle, hold each other’s sheep, keep up with each other’s kids, and hitch rides for animals or tack on each other’s trailers. You never have to worry about having animals in the same class or multiples in the grand drive.  Your stock show family will show that animal just like they would their own.

It was GirlChild’s first State Fair.  We had two class winners going into the ring for division champion and needed another showman.  A kid in our stock show family stripped down to his boxers in the sheep barn, threw on some show clothes, and bolted across the parking lot to the cattle show ring while his mom tucked his shirt on the run.  Seconds later, the kid walked into the ring with poise and confidence, showing that heifer with all he had.  He was a little winded.

5. You Laugh — A Lot.

As in, laugh until you cry. Those inside jokes among your stock show family lead to moments when you are all giggling, and no one else knows why.  Those times when something just pops out of your mouth, and some people can’t believe what you said, but those who know you best bust out laughing.  The people that a simple shared look from across the ring can elicit a grin. You genuinely enjoy being together.

Sometimes, your stock show family makes you laugh when you want to cry.  We were halfway across the country in Ozark, Arkansas, with 3 trucks and trailers filled with tack and Simmental cattle. Three families spent 3 hours on the side of the road due to a truck breakdown. We unloaded trailers to get to toolboxes, met some lovely people who stopped to help and made multiple trips to the nearby truck stop. It could have been a horrible experience, but we had snacks and each other to laugh with. The resulting after-midnight arrival to Junior Nationals and getting drenched in the What-a-Burger drive-thru at 3 a.m. is a story for another post.

Always laughing.

6. Friendships

The kids you grow up with showing livestock are often the adults you count on.  Stock show kids are having the time of their lives.  They are fearless and inventive.  They play and interact in ways different from their relationships with other friends.

BoyChild was in the ring with his favorite heifer.  His friend was standing behind me, whispering to himself, willing the judge to put BoyChild at the top of the class. These are the kind of people I hope our kids surround themselves with as they get older.  People who will support them, cheer for them, and genuinely want what’s best. 

7. They support you outside of the show ring

A stock show family is there for each other in everything they do, even outside the show ring.

GirlChild recently had a big night for her volleyball team. Players invited family and friends to the game to show their support. Our stock show family showed up and showed out. They were the biggest, loudest, most fun group of supporters there. I’ll admit, I got a little teary when she was announced, and our stock show family went wild, proudly cheering for her. They’re there for most anything we need. They’ve helped me clean my house and landscape my yard for a family reunion they weren’t invited to. They’ve supported our causes, cared for our kids, grieved our losses, and celebrated our success. They are family. We are thankful for each other and appreciate these years together.

Stock Show Family supporting us at the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia

Why are you thankful for your stock show family?

A version of this post was originally on Arable Media.

Come A Runnin’ Youngin’! And 5 Other Expressions To Love

The way folks talk is one of my favorite things about our little part of the Southern Appalachians.

It’s not just the accent.

In a place where our Scottish and Irish ancestors settled centuries ago, it’s the words and sayings (meaning expressions) folks use that just feels like home. 

These colloquialisms can sometimes cause confusion.

My Freshman college roommate was from the northern part of the USA. She migrated South for school, probably never expecting there to be a language barrier just 6 hours from her home.

We got along great, though we had very different upbringings (meaning we grew up in households that didn’t function the same way). We were often tickled (meaning we found humor) by how each other spoke, our accents, and the names we used for specific items.

Her “wallet” to my “billfold” was the source of a particular moment of confusion one evening as we prepared to go out.

We had a severe language breakdown over the iron one day. She pronounced the word as if it had two syllables. I pronounce it as if it has one.  We were both confused for a good 5 minutes.

Twenty-something years later, I still can’t wrap my brain around how she said that word. 

It was some of the expressions I used that blew her mind.

Here are some of my favorite phrases from our part of the world.

I look forward to reading yours in the comments. 

Come A’ Runnin’ Youngin’

My personal favorite. 

The mom and aunt of MyFarmer’s childhood best friend say this.

Whether it’s been a few days or a few years since you’ve seen them, whether it’s a fancy wedding or the grocery store, once they lock their gaze on you, they’ll throw their arms open and holler, “Come a’ runnin’ youngin’!” 

Come a’ runnin’ youngin’ means: “Hey!!! It’s so good to see you! Get over here, and let me look at you. Give me a hug! How’ve you been?!” 

Yep, that one statement means all that. 

That simple phrase shows that someone is eager and excited to see you. It makes a person feel special, loved, and happy to be seen.

I’ve found myself saying “Come A’ Runnin’ Youngin” to my toddler cousins. 

I hope it makes them feel as loved and cared about as it does me.

50-11

Or 40-11, or 47-11. Basically, 11 after any other number. It means a lot.

“He’s got 50-11 excuses, and I don’t believe any of ‘em.”

“There are 47-11 flies in here already, shut the door!”

Sit a Spell

Also, a personal favorite and the tagline I chose for this blog. 

Sit a Spell means:  Come hang out. Let’s catch up. What’s going on?

Sit a Spell is welcoming. It means your company is wanted. It means there are stories to share. Come sit a spell.

Study On It

Study on it is a phrase MyFarmer says 50-11 times a day. It means to figure something out. Study on it can take any length of time and can be for a problem in varying degrees of severity.

BoyChild asks his dad for help with his homework, “Bring it here; let me study on it.”

There is a major mechanical issue with a piece of farm equipment, “Let me slide underneath this thing and study on it.”

Study on it is a comforting phrase. Whatever the problem or issue, everything will be alright. It’ll eventually be fixed when you study on it.

Full as a Tick

When BoyChild and GirlChild were toddlers, they learned to proudly climb out of their chairs after a meal, stick out their bellies, poke them, and exclaim through giggles, “I’m full as a tick!”

Full as a tick means: I’m done eating. I’m full. I couldn’t eat another bite.

Ain’t No Count

Ain’t no count is used to convey displeasure, disdain, or disgust.

“That boy ain’t no count. I heard him talking back to his momma.”

“Shew, this milk ain’t no count. It stinks.”

I often hear ain’t no count from my dad and father-in-law. If they say something ain’t no count, you should probably stay away.

Expressions are traditions passed down in communities and families for generations. 

What are some of your favorite expressions from the place you call home?

First Annual Appalachian Classic Welcomes Hundreds of Youth

September 12, 2023

First Annual Appalachian Classic Welcomes Hundreds of Youth

Damascus, VA — School buses lined the gravel drive to Wilson Farm, LLC, at the First Annual Appalachian Classic Livestock Judging Contest. 

More than 250 youth from Southwest Virginia competed in the livestock judging contest, evaluating cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs.

Livestock judging challenges participants to evaluate a class of 4 animals of the same species. Participants evaluate the animal’s structure, muscle, and functionality, among other characteristics. The animals are then ranked according to what is considered ideal and in comparison to other animals in the class.

Participants support their rankings with oral reasons, a speaking portion of the competition, which requires them to take careful notes and deliver a memorized speech to a judge or panel of judges.

The Appalachian Classic required participants to evaluate eight separate classes. Youth had 12 minutes to rank each class and answer questions about the animals. 

Youth evaluate a class of hogs

Kelsey Davidson, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Holston High School, and Aaron Scyphers, horticulture teacher and FFA advisor at Patrick Henry High School, both in Washington County, VA, organized the event. 

“I find it very important that our students are exposed to agriculture and have these experiences that teach them various skills,” Davidson said. 

For KJ Crabtree, a high school junior, the contest was only the second time she had participated in livestock judging. “I came for fun,” Crabtree said, “I wanted to experience judging livestock again. It’s fun, and I really wanted a chance to do better than I did the first time.”

For kids like Crabtree, eager to learn more about agriculture but inexperienced in livestock evaluation, the event provided a livestock judging clinic led by Matthew Miller, Virginia Tech Livestock Judging Team coach. 

Clinics and opportunities for agriculture education are key to youth learning where their food comes from. “Instilling the fundamentals of livestock evaluation at an early age is critical for youth to understand meat animal industries,” Miller said. 

Grant Grubb, a high school junior, was the champion in the senior division of the contest. He sees the value of participating in contests like the Appalachian Classic.

“I love agriculture and being competitive,” Grubb said. “Judging combines those two things. While also learning how to select high-quality livestock accurately.” 

The ability to select quality livestock is a skill that will undoubtedly benefit future farmers and producers.

A participant takes notes during the contest.

According to Miller, no matter the experience level of youth, there are also lessons outside of agriculture. “Livestock judging helps instill confident decision-making habits.”

Davidson agrees, “We wanted the contest to provide opportunities for students to learn about agriculture and livestock while gaining skills in public speaking, problem-solving, teamwork, and determination in a working farm environment.” 

According to Grubb, the contest did just that. “Judging provides me with life skills like public speaking and presentations.”

The event required a multitude of volunteers and sponsors.

“I cannot thank enough all the volunteers, livestock suppliers, sponsors, advisors, and extension staff who made today possible,” Scyphers said. “It’s humbling to see a community of volunteers and sponsors come together to support youth in agriculture.”

Sponsors are vital to help provide many necessities, including prizes, ensuring youth are awarded for their efforts.

Abigail M. accepts her award from sponsors

Volunteers and supporters are critical, too. They are needed to lead groups of students, move animals in pens, provide animals for judging, serve food to participants, and perform various other tasks.

Adam Wilson of Wilson Farm, LLC, was one of those volunteers. In addition to supplying animals for the contest and volunteering the day of, Wilson hosted the event on his farm.

“We’re happy to open the farm to these kids,” Wilson said. He added that he volunteers for these events because “Somebody did it for me when I was a kid. I hope we can inspire another generation to do it for someone else.”

Shasta Wilson added, “It’s important to us to provide agriculture opportunities to local youth.”

While many of the participants at the event aren’t growing up on farms, they are learning lessons that will help them understand the importance of agriculture and educate them to be knowledgeable consumers. 

“It’s encouraging to see all these kids who showed up to judge and learn,” Scyphers said.

Contact your local extension office or FFA chapter for more information about youth livestock judging events.

# # #

Hometown Headlines is a series that will tell the stories of the good things folks are doing in their hometown.

If you have a story suggestion for Hometown Headlines, contact [email protected]

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on the Farm

Twas the night before Christmas and all over the farm,
not a creature was stirring, but the dang rooster a 24-hour alarm.
The animals were fed, the water was full.
All the livestock were happy, even the bull.

The farm kids‘ coveralls were actually hung on a hook,
threats of Santa not coming was all that it took.
With his wife in the kitchen, the farmer’s beef on the grill,
they were both busy preparing for the Christmas day meal.

When suddenly a ringing phone broke the calm of the night.
Neighbors calling this late meant something wasn’t right.
The farmer sprang into action, pulled on boots with a shout.
“C’mon, y’all,” he hollered, “The cows, they are OUT!!!”

The farm seemed so calm, as snow started to fall,
but the pasture was empty, no cows in sight at all.
When what to their wondering eyes should appear,
first one neighbor, then two, a third on his John Deere.

In the cold, dark night they rounded up the cattle.
The farmer, his family, and neighbors ready for battle.
As the last cow headed for the gate into the field,
she turned, bolted up the road, no slowdown, no yield!

Suddenly, from nowhere, there he was blocking the hole.
A jolly man in overalls, co-op hat, and belly like a jelly bowl.
He wiggled his nose, winked, and nodded his head.
That cow, she turned and ran straight for the field.

Neighbors let out cheers, the farmer a relieved guffaw.
They all looked at each other, not sure what they just saw.
“Thank ya, folks.” The man exclaimed as he turned his sleigh about,
“You’re all on the nice list for helping the farmer out.”

There was something different about that cattleman, that charmer

And to this day… they all swear.. that Santa Claus… He’s a farmer!
Our cattle munching on hay on a snowy day.

Originally written for and posted on Arable Media | arable.media

Twelve Days of the Farmer’s Christmas

Farmers and ranchers celebrate their own brand of the Holiday season.

On the First Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

A trip to the tractor parts store

On the Second Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Third Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

Thankfully, these cattle haven’t escaped. They’re just waiting on feed.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Four filthy hoodies (could ya wash these for me, honey?)
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Fifth Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Sixth Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Six round bales rollin’
Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Seventh Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Seven degrees this morning
Six round bales rollin’
Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Eighth Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Eight bottle babies
Seven degrees this morning
Six round bales rollin’
Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

GirlChild and BoyChild care for a newborn lamb who was raised on a bottle.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Nine o’clock supper
Eight bottle babies
Seven degrees this morning
Six round bales rollin’
Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Tenth Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Ten icey water troughs
Nine o’clock supper
Eight bottle babies
Seven degrees this morning
Six round bales rollin’
Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Eleven ewes a lambin’
Ten icey water troughs
Nine o’clock supper
Eight bottle babies
Seven degrees this morning
Six round bales rollin’
Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas
my farmer gave to me:

Twelve gates to open
Eleven ewes a lambin’
Ten icey water troughs
Nine o’clock supper
Eight bottle babies
Seven degrees this morning
Six round bales rollin’
Five hours fixing fence (he swore he only needed me 20 minutes)
Four filthy hoodies
Three escaped cattle
Two feed bills due
and a trip to the tractor parts store (and of course I brought home the wrong thing…)

Farmers celebrate holidays a little differently. But we love it.  We wouldn’t want to live life any other way.

This particular fix-it job required a couple of trips to the store

Originally written for and published by Arable |arable.media

The Future of Ag: In The Hands of Champions

As we celebrate National Ag Week, folks are worried about the future of agriculture. 

Worried about the future of our communities, our country, our world.

Social media is full of cancel culture, side part hate, and misinformation.

People shake their heads when they talk about “kids these days.”

And, I get it.

So let me introduce you to some kids I know:

It’s right there at the top of the banner, “Champions.”

Traditionally, the backdrop at this show says “Champion”. This year, there was an “s” at the end. 

I thought it was perfect!

Because that’s what these kids are: Champions. 

They’ve all had their turn in front of the backdrop, smiling with a champion banner they earned for their hard work showing or judging livestock. 

The picture at the top of this post was the weekend of their 2020 State Fair Livestock Shows.

A weekend they worked towards all year.

A weekend they love.

A weekend we weren’t sure would even happen.

Their families still purchased animals. They carried on with their breeding programs.

The kids still worked with their show animals. They still fed them a show ration. They still trained them. They worked hair, rinsed legs, perfected their fitting and clipping game.

They did all this keeping the faith that they would be able to show. Yet, not knowing for sure if they would.

Thanks to people who care about these kids and the livestock industry, who know the value of livestock shows, that weekend did happen.

It was a weekend when many of them won champion banners.

But really, it’s not the banners that make them champions.

When those champions want a “silly picture” and really give it their all.

The kid who won Champion Simmental Heifer. This steadfast kid, with a strong you-can-count-on-me-ness that is lacking in many adults, is a champion. 

A young lady who came to State Fair with one animal. Her lamb was injured a few weeks before the show. The lamb was treated by a veterinarian and cleared to participate. She knew the animal wasn’t going to be a champion. And knowing that, she still showed it with the drive to achieve her goal, bringing a summer’s worth of work and dedication to fruition. That young lady is a champion.

The girl who won Reserve Grand Champion with her Commercial Heifer. This kid 99% of the time has a huge smile on her face. An all-inclusive friend to everyone, she is a champion. 

Kids who grow up caring for animals. Like this little lamb that needed some TLC.

A sister and brother who both earned banners that summer showing goats. Experienced showing cattle and sheep, they had the courage to try something new. They stepped out of their comfort zone to show, learn and achieve new goals with those goats. Sister, who has the same amount of sass (the good kind) as she does sweetness. Brother, who will fit any animal no matter what it is or who it belongs to. These two are champions.

A newcomer to showing cattle last year. She is eager to learn. Driven to improve. Her eagerness is a positive influence on her more veteran peers. That young lady is a champion. 

The Champion Junior Showman at the State Fair. This girl can tell a story in a way that makes her audience belly laugh. She, unintentionally funny and uplifting, is a champion.

An experienced showman who has spent a lot of time at the backdrop. She is much loved and adored by her younger counterparts. She can corral this crew in a way their parents envy. She, with a heart of gold, is a champion.

The Intermediate Premier Beef Exhibitor has always been one of the biggest supporters of all of his friends. He roots for them all, even when they are the competition. One of those people who remembers everything he sees and hears. He is a champion.

The Junior Premier Beef Exhibitor is eager to show anything: heifer, bull, lamb, goat, rabbit (though he hasn’t done that one yet). Always willing to show his peers extra or misbehaving animal, he’s sweet-hearted with a mischievous spirit. He’s a champion.

A girl who spent time in front of the backdrop with her home-raised heifer. She bravely tries new things, eager to participate in everything. She’s in charge of feeding the show stock because her precision is unmatched. She is a champion.

The youngest lady is a many-time lamb showmanship champion. She is bold, daring, and hilarious. She, who expects demands only the best from herself, is a champion.

A young man whose improvements in the show ring are inspiring. A kid who has an answer for everything and a question for most things. He takes being a good friend very seriously. He’s a champion.

These kids are a small representation of the kids out there doing great things.

Not just winning prizes or gaining glory. 

They are all knowledgeable agriculturalists.

They are all kind hearts. They are all firey spirits.

They are already advocates and educators.

They are fun, and serious, and determined to be their best.

Born Farmers

These aren’t even all the kids in our “show family.” They’re just the ones we could corral for the picture. 

Not to mention the hundreds of stock show kids that were there that weekend. The thousands all over the country.

Kids who know the value of hard work. The sting of defeat. The art of losing gracefully.

Kids who rise early to take care of animals. 

Who must be concerned with something other than themselves.

Kids who know the feeling of working to achieve a goal.

These kids help care for animals that provide for their families.

Folks worry about the future of agriculture. 

Worry about the future of our communities, our country, our world.

Granted, those are valid concerns.

These kids, and many more like them, aren’t just champions. They are our future.

Is it fair to lay responsibility for the future on them? Probably not. But they have the mentors, the sense, the work ethic, the leadership and the intelligence to carry on. 

Who knows what the future will hold. Where pop culture, humanity and politics will lead.

I just know that for me, knowing kids like these are growing up to take their places in the world, I worry just a little less.

I believe in the future of agriculture.

Maw’s Shirt: Cloaked in Love, Support & Encouragement

Maw’s Shirt

In the livestock show ring, one should dress neatly. Farm/ranch professional. Jeans, boots, belt. Most wear some sort of collared shirt.

This can change from species to species, or in different areas of the country. Still, it’s pretty standard.

Our kids have several “show shirts.”

Sometimes shows last a few days requiring multiple shirts. 

And I always bring extra shirts even for a one-day event, cause, ya know, BoyChild and his shenanigans. 

Once, at a lamb show, BoyChild’s show shirt somehow became tangled on a lamb stand (an object the sheep stand on for shearing and grooming).

This unfortunate tangling occurred while the shirt was on BoyChild’s body.

Boy and stand – thankfully there was not a lamb on it – tangled, tumbled, and hit the ground. The only injury was the front of BoyChild’s show shirt which was torn down the middle, completely. 

I wasn’t even there.

My Farmer and I were a few states away at a cattle sale. Boy&GirlChild were showing sheep under the careful supervision of my sister and our Show Family. 

They all sprang into action, located the extra shirt I had packed, and the crisis was averted.

I always take an extra shirt for GirlChild too, though she seldom needs it.

She did need an extra shirt at the State Fair market lamb show a few years ago. Her curious lamb began nibbling on her exhibitor number that was pinned to the back of the shirt. One good tug on that laminated piece of cardboard and her cute little shirt ripped in two places straight down the back.

Not long after this was taken, this cute shirt was destroyed by a lamb.

She was younger then and more willing to wear whatever I chose.

Now, she’s growing up and becoming more fashionable. 

She’s at the age that I ask her if my outfit works. 

She’s brutally honest.

I never have to ask her what show shirt she wants to wear. Which one needs to be washed. Which one needs to be ironed.

I don’t have to ask because I know she wants to wear, “Maw’s Shirt.”

Maw was their paternal great-grandmother. Pop Pop’s momma. My Farmer’s grandma.

Maw was a force. Not-much-over-100-pounds of pure grandmother. 

When she cooked, seconds were not an option, they were a requirement. 

She is Foodie Frances.

She ironed everything. She once gave me a look of sheer horror when I pulled out a bottle of spray wrinkle releaser while getting Boy&GirlChild ready for their roles in a wedding rehearsal. 

She was a collector of dolls. 

She was an unofficial collector of clothing and canned goods.

She worked hard. She loved even harder.

She loved her grandkids and great-grandkids with a definite fierceness. 

And they loved her.

We all did. Still do.

She was always happy to be with the Grands and Great-Grands

I could always tell when my kids had been to Maw’s house: 

The tops of their heads smelled like her very distinct perfume. They didn’t want supper because she had filled them with candy. They always came home with some type of toy, coloring book, or other bobbles she had given them.

In other words, she spoiled them rotten. 

And that was okay because she was their great-grandmother. 

I certainly wasn’t brave enough to tell her to stop. 

Maw outdoing the Easter Bunny (and Santa, and the Tooth Fairy and…)

When Maw passed away 4 years ago, it was the first close loss our kids had experienced. It was hard. 

Double heartbreak for this momma. She was my grandmother-in-law and I missed her like crazy. Harder, though, was watching my babies mourn. Helping them navigate that feeling of sheer heartbreak.

Maw and GirlChild on this little Holstein’s first Halloween

So after going through Maw’s stuff, My Farmer’s cousin presented GirlChild with a cute floral ¾ sleeve, button-down “show shirt.”

It has been the show shirt ever since. 

When she first began wearing it, the ¾ sleeves were too long, had to be rolled up and pinned. The tail of the shirt was so bulky when tucked in, it made her belt fit differently.

But she looked cute.

And it was Maw’s shirt.

In the four years she’s been wearing “Maw’s Shirt” she’s had good show days and not-so-good show days. She’s had big successes and disappointments. 

This was one of those good show days in Maw’s shirt

She doesn’t wear Maw’s shirt because it’s “lucky.”

She wears the shirt because she can feel Maw’s love. Maw’s support. Maw’s strong slender arms that used to fill the sleeves wrapping GirlChild in confidence and encouragement.

She wore Maw’s shirt at a show a few weeks ago. 

Showing heifers in Maw’s Shirt

It was at that show that I realized that the sleeves don’t have to be rolled anymore. The tail of the shirt is almost not long enough to stay tucked.

There’ll come a day when she completely outgrows Maw’s shirt.

What she won’t outgrow is knowing that her family, of which Maw was the cornerstone, will always surround her with the same support and love she felt when Maw was standing ringside. The same love and support she felt when she showed in Maw’s shirt.

She won’t outgrow that feeling of confidence, love, and pride no matter where she lands in the placings.

When she outgrows Maw’s shirt, we’ll shop. I’m sure her new show shirts will be trendy, fashionable and look adorable on her.

She’ll look clean, professional, and cute in the show ring.

I’m sure she’ll always keep Maw’s shirt somewhere in her closet.

I know she’ll always keep Maw in the boldness of her spirit, in the breath of her laughter. 

She’ll always keep Maw in the center of her heart.

They’re having The Time of Their Lives

They’re Having The Time of Their Lives

“Those kids are having the time of their life,” an older gentleman leaning against the rail uttered to no one in particular.

Several of us heard him. Many nodded and a few “mmhhmmed” as we watched kids and their heifers in the show ring. 

Looking around the barn it hit me that his statement was true for a lot of us. A lot of folks in that barn were having the time of their life.

The Kid Who Wins the Banner.
Standing there in the champion drive her heart is pounding.  As the judge approaches her and tips his hat she’s so excited she thinks she’ll burst. Her smile is blinding as she shakes the judge’s hand. 

She’s having the time of her life.

Champion Steer sometime in the late 1990s.

The Kid Without the Banner.
He loves that little heifer. Combing, feeding, and talking to her in the stall. His dad tries to explain that she’s not the best, that they’re here to have fun. The kid gets it. He proudly walks her around the show ring and accepts his not-so-blue ribbon with a grin.

He’s having the time of his life. 

  • Photo Credit: Hollandsworth Photography
  • Photo Credit: Kestner Images
He was so proud of this little heifer.
He led her all around the farm – even on to the front porch – and showed her in every show we went to that summer.

The Parents.
The money other families spend on vacations and extras, they spend on show animals and show equipment. Showing livestock occupies a lot of their time too. The time with family, though, is priceless. Being a part of their show kid’s accomplishments. Seeing their kids grow and understand the importance of agriculture. Laughing with their friends – the other show parents – hanging out, trading stories, helping take care of each other’s brood. 

Those parents are having the time of their lives.

Show Dad and Show Kid

The Judge.
Today it’s his opinion that matters. This is his dream. He almost can’t believe he’s being paid to look at livestock all day long. When he speaks, people listen. It’s him who gets to shake the winner’s hand, tip his hat to the ladies, encourage the kid who just didn’t have it today.

Yeah, he’s having the time of his life.

Judge evaluates a class of Simmental heifers

The Fitter.
He may be employed by someone particular, the show parent, or just there for the day helping. He’s clipping, fitting, gluing, and painting so he’s exactly where he wants to be. The days can be hard, but the good-natured teasing is as plentiful as the refreshments. Getting his picture taken at the backdrop behind that calf he helped put together, 

He’s having the time of his life.

Young fitter works on a front leg

The Breeder.
He takes a lot of gruff for being on his cell phone so much. Sending pictures, checking video views, and answering questions from potential buyers. He also gets to talk to families enjoying success with the animal he raised. Watching that heifer he sold walk in the ring, remembering when she first stood. Seeing his breeder prefix on the pedigree sign hanging above her. Being asked to be in her backdrop picture or does he have anything for sale. 

He’s having the time of his life.

Because It’s Who We Are
Beyond the nerves, the muck, and the occasional bad days. 

Beyond the work, the expense, and the time. 

From the younger sibling splashing in the mud behind the barn. To the grandparents who love watching their grandkids show – but are glad to be out of the daily grind of it all.  And everyone in between.

If the smell of shavings makes you smile. If you’d rather go to a show than anywhere else on earth. If being in the barn makes your heart full. If it’s all worth it. 

Then you know what many of us know… 

The show barn is the best place to have the time of your life.

Everybody has a Great Story To Tell

Everybody Has Great Story To Tell

It’s been one year since Farmhouse Front Porch by Kelly Writing was launched.

In honor of our anniversary, I wanted to reintroduce myself to our readers with few stories from my history, and let you know that I’m available to help write your family stories and memories too!

Family legend has it that my grandaddy bought his farm and farmhouse on a front porch promise and a handshake. 

Sometime in the 1940’s he and his brother were sitting on the front porch of a house that was being auctioned along with the farm on which it sat. Grandaddy needed a farm because the one he owned would soon be at the bottom of a lake which was, at that time, under construction. His brother commented, “If I had my place sold, I’d buy this one.” My grandaddy stuck his hand out to his brother and said, “Then you better buy it, ‘cause I just bought yours.”

They shook hands and the deal was done.

Now some 70 years later, our kids, while multi-generation farmers, will be the 4th generation to grow up and work on that same farm. They were brought home as babies to the same farmhouse my grandparents made a home for us all.

Hence the blog name: Farmhouse Front Porch

Beyond the income and the livelihood that our farm provides for our family. 

Besides being my father’s and my husband’s occupation.

Farming is the backdrop of our lives.

It makes sense that farming, agriculture, and showing livestock have become the subject – the “niche” – of this blog.

It’s not just a subject, it’s our life. Our daily life. For all my life.

One of my clearest memories from childhood was when my Grandaddy was determined to make 5-year-old me a horse lover. 

  • Not Mickie and not me, but a pretty sweet pony that did steal my heart.

I’m a farm girl. I’m a sheep girl. I’m a cattle girl. I have never been a horse girl. 

My sister loves horses. My cousins love horses. 

The only horse I’ve ever loved was Mickie.

A beautiful buckskin, Mickie was one of those horses who just knew her rider. My sister and cousins would hop on her and she would run, giving them the ride and the thrill they wanted. With me she was gentle and sweet, nuzzling my palm with her velvety nose as I fed her treats perfectly content to stay on the ground.

Until my grandaddy, headstrong that I was at least going to learn how to sit a horse, plopped me down one day on Mickie’s back.

She just stood there. Feeling my unease, abiding by our mutual understanding, that good old mare just stood there. So grandaddy nudged her, pushed her, did what he did to make her move. 

All of a sudden she took off!

Sweet Mickie bounded through the barn lot at warp speed while my tiny five-year-old body bounced and swayed. 

I clung to the reins for dear life, tears streaming down my face, praying that I would survive this ordeal. 

Finally, arriving at the end of the field and faced with a fence she apparently didn’t want to jump, Mickie stopped short, throwing me to the ground with a splat, right in the middle of a wet spring.

Witnesses to this event remember it a little differently. 

My tears, they say, were real. Me pleading for my life, factual. 

However, they report that grandaddy merely nudged Mickie and she meandered through the barn lot at barely a walk, stopping gently at the spring, probably disturbed by my panic, at which point I slid off into the spring of my own free will. 

Not-so-shockingly, I never did develop that love of horses.

That’s just one of my many childhood memories made on the farm.

I’m grateful that our kids will make memories there too.

Like witnessing the beginning of new life.

Our kids have watched the birth of countless lambs and calves. 

Even the occasional goat. 

They understand that when a cow or a ewe has difficulty bringing their offspring into the world, it’s our job as farmers to help the animal achieve a safe delivery. 

Our kids still talk about lambing season one January a few years ago.

It was brutally cold. 

Subzero temperatures caused lambs being born to begin to freeze before they could even hit the ground. Freshly born lambs had to be immediately dried and placed under a heat lamp for life-saving warmth. This meant someone had to monitor the ewes 24 hours a day until the weather improved. 

  • Sweet Lambs Keeping Warm

One parent and one kid would stay in the enclosed feed room in the barn monitoring the sheep. We took turns day and night, switching pairs every few hours. 

To our kids, it was an adventure. 

A little farming campout. Sleeping in their winter coveralls on outdoor lounge chairs. Eating sandwiches for breakfast or whenever we had a chance to grab a bite. A couple of times PaPaw brought us take-out or dinner from Granny.

We even set up a computer to watch movies during the down-times. 

A lambing barn cinema. 

It was three days of hard work, little sleep, and freezing temperatures. 

It was necessary to keep our flock safe, healthy, and growing. 

It also turned out to be a lot of fun.

 I feel sure this is one of the memories our kids will share with their kids.

  • The barn set up for lambing. Affectionately called the “Maternity Ward.”

Somewhere in the middle of my years growing up a farm girl to raising two farm kids of our own, I married a farm boy.

I knew when My Farmer and I married, the farm was the only place to have our wedding.

Weeks of cleaning and sprucing up, weed-eating and mowing, planting flowers, and pressure washing everything in sight happened to make the beloved family farm wedding-ready.

We chose a beautiful spot for the ceremony on the top of a hill just beyond our barn overlooking a river valley with a gorgeous backdrop of mountains in the distance.

My husband-to-be and brother-in-law built an arch out of trees harvested from the farm. 

  • My Farmer and brother-in-law built this great arch. My cousin decorated it perfectly. Our friends grew the flowers in their greenhouse for months. Then a wind storm hit about an hour before the ceremony and mangled them all. It was still beautiful.

A family friend lent us chairs from his new business for our guests. 

His business was a funeral home but hey, the chairs were free.

More family friends spent months growing flowers in their greenhouse. Beautiful pots and baskets that would be the perfect final touch to our mid-May wedding.

Tents set up, dresses steamed, meat slowly smoking for the reception dinner, one of the only things left to do was mow the grass at the ceremony site, which was in the middle of a pasture. 

The afternoon before the wedding I prepared to get this job done. As I gassed up the mower, my dad appeared to inform me that mowing wasn’t necessary.

 Ever the resourceful farmer, he announced proudly that he had turned a group of 30 some cattle in the pasture and they were happily munching the grass down as we spoke.

No! I thought. No, no, no, no… I rushed up to the ceremony site and found exactly what I knew I would find. 

Cow manure. 

Everywhere.

Ya’ll, I’m a farm girl to the bone and this was a fairly casual country affair… but it was cow crap. 

We’re not talking cow pies that could be shoveled somewhere else.

This was cattle turned on fresh green grass after a long winter of eating hay and grain. 

This was green, runny, and messy!

Everywhere. All over where the guests would sit, beneath our lovely arch, and down the aisle.

Everywhere.

I really didn’t want to drag my white wedding dress through that.

I really didn’t want to ask our guests to “watch where they stepped.” 

PaPaw realized his great idea had gone awry so he came up with the solution.

Our wedding rehearsal was spent with our family and our wedding party laughingly scooping dry dirt and sand over the manure. 

The next day turned out beautiful, by the way, a fantastic wedding. 

Plus, we have a great story to tell.

Cattle like these loved that fresh grass at our wedding ceremony site.

So many things happen on a farm. We have fun times. Hard times. We feel the circle of life. We live through uncertainties. Most of the time we rely on faith. 

Farming is our livelihood, our way of life, our home. 

That’s just the way we want it.

These are just a few of the stories of the past, and present, that makes us who we are. 

The stories of us.

I can help you tell your personal story! Your family’s story!

Ask me how: [email protected]

Checkin’ Cows

Checkin’ Cows

His dad said, “Son, there’s a heifer that’s calvin’. “
To the pasture, they went, to see if trouble she was havin’. 
They rode out there just to check, to go watch 
While sittin’ there together, they had a good talk. 

They talked about cows, sheep, tractors, and hay. 
Started talking ‘bout life, somewhere along the way. 

She said to her fella, “Hon, I can’t make our date. 
There’s cattle to be fed and feedin’ just can’t wait.” 
So he helped fill the sacks and in the truck he hopped. 
Said, “Darlin’, you drive. I’ll open gates when ya stop.” 

They worked together feeding cows and checkin’ babies 
Started dreamin’ of their own, someday, maybe. 

The neighbor called, “You gotta bull out down here!” 
So the farmer hustled up, jumped on his Deere. 
They worked together to corral that hooved steak. 
Only pay Neighbor took was “thanks” and a handshake. 

‘Cause he knows one day he too may need a pal. 
When your good to folks, good comes back around. 

Every cattleman knows, it ain’t just checkin’ cows
It’s learnin’ about life, the cattle…and ours
Every farmer has a story. Be there when they tell it.
You’ll learn the best way of life, the best way to live it.