Finally Some Time

Finally found some time.  Life has been catching up to me.  For several weeks my small son T.M. was extremely sick.  We spent several days in a pediatric unit and have been going back and forth to the local hospital for tests.

Then, spring work started.  So, it was bust your but to get as much done in a four day work week, at the town job, then off to work the fun job.

The fun job includes- pairing out cows and calves to a different field, doctoring sick animals, and tagging calves. 

Also, it is branding season. I have mentioned how much I adore branding season.  Good friends, good times, roping, and socializing after a long winter of being holed up.

We also teach leathercraft for the local 4-H group.  This weekend is their big show.  Wish the kids luck.

Hello Tuesday

Sorry, missed yesterday due to lack of babysitter. Don't come into internet when I don't have someone to corral small children! :) Sunday was a great day though! The number one childrens program in the area- 4-H! Had thier horse show and I helped at it.

We had about 50 kids showing off their hard summer's worth of work. From Showmanship to Reining it was all there! These kids impress me by how much they grow throughout the year. Whether it is in height, confidence, or ability- They are amazing.

We added a couple new classes last year, so I was on board to help with the cattle. We had a Ranch horse class- down the fence, pen them, and then rope! It was great! Kids were ages 10 to 17 and showed some real promise.

We also offered steer stopping and a working cow horse for the more feint of heart! What an awesome day. Makes me want to work with my horses so my daughter has a chance in about seven years :)

More Kids

Getting ready for the Junior Livestock Show. What a tiring and rewarding ordeal. We have kids from all clubs and chapters showing, selling, and running this livestock show. Yep, the kids actually run the entire show.

Each club or chapter, since FFA is involved also, elects two members to represent them on the board. The board then runs the entire show with guidance from FFA and 4-H advisors. These kids do everything from getting sponsorships to judges. Set-up and take down equipment. Clerk for judges. Handout ribbons.

They also are responsible for making decisions about their peers especially those peers who break the rules. They must have a majority to go forth but it is a great learning experience.

Junior Livestock Show

Well it has been a long couple of weeks and I haven't written anything in awhile. We are currently being bombarded by the state government wanting to know the impact of our programs and why they should be funded. I don't know maybe because we help produce food for the nation. Maybe because we are continually fighting for common sense in regulations. Maybe because we are working at making agriculture an evironmentally sound, sustainable industry. Enough complaining.

Last week was our Junior Livestock show. We had 4-H and FFA members from the county and surrounding counties showing off their animals. One young man was outstanding! He raised the champion market rabbit along with the champion market beef. He also took home a couple buckles in horsemanship and the round robin. It makes me happy to see that the future may be brighter than once anticipated. We still have young men and women who are interested in agriculture and raising meat animals.