like a dude in a quick stop bathroom stall. Just trying to come up with something witty to write.
Our eldest child and favorite daughter is getting ready to get on a plane to head to some other continent to start the production for another season of that tv show for which she works. She will be in numerous countries and continents over the next couple of weeks. And she gets paid for this. Hopefully, she can skype us on Thanksgiving. It is times like this that I remember my brother Daniel and mother talking about Kela graduating high school and how I would handle it. They figured that I walked around, kicking rocks and muttering to myself a lot. She was just headed to Stillwater at that time and I was fine with that. Now, I walk around, kick a turd and go “RUSM?! She’s headed to where?” Somebody get me a globe so I can find this place. (Do they even still make globes?)
Meanwhile, we are left here in paradise. Our youngest child and favorite son was just discussing the merits of going or not going to several shows over the next month or two. We also discussed quail season, deer season and guns. Sometimes, opening day of quail season seems way more appetizing than some Easter-colored ribbon. I don’t need to drive some distance to have a judge tell me that our wethers are common. I already know that they are common. However, it is Duke’s call if we head somewhere.
And all of this brings me to the thoughts of stock shows. For the past year or so, I have wrestled with numerous facets of the stock show industry. Jocks, Ag teachers, parents, big $s (ever increasing), politics, drugs, no drugs, judges (good and bad) and all of the other stuff involved with a stock show.
I have personally had the fortune as well as the misfortune to be on all sides of the fences that deal with stock shows. We’ve had wins as a jock, ag teacher, parent, friend, breeder, etc. We’ve been on both sides of the politics. Been beat by better animals and some that weren’t so good. It is all part of it. That stuff can eat at you and make you not want to have anything do with a show ring.
But then, you can look back on one kid that was raised via the show ring, speech room, etc. And realize, that deal worked out. Then, you can look around, make sure you understand that the next kid is not like the first one, and realize that we have had really good times at shows, chasing animals, etc. You have to put things in perspective and remember that the end goal is not a banner. As a breeder, jock, ag teacher, whatever, I want the best animal(s). As a parent, I really just want the best that I can for my kid without compromising anybody’s integrity or bank account. I could spend more but it is just kind of against my upbringing, religion and want to. So, that brings a dilemma.
And then you bring the ag teacher thing back into it. As an ag teacher, I would recommend that a family spend more and tie in with a reputable jock. But then there is the $50 to $300 pig market. No jock wants to mess with that. There isn’t any money in it. Especially since, most sales are floored at $300 or $250.
But from my perspective, it is still fun to see a kid/family excited about their new pig project. And this is actually where almost all of us stock show people originated. On the cheap end that just wanted a project to learn the business. It may or may not end up as a champion. But it has a chance–1 in a thousand or so. And like the great Dumb & Dumber movie line, “So you are saying there is a chance!?” I love that movie.
Now, I am still sitting here trying to find something witty to write. What I do know is that as a breeder, ag teacher, jock, whatever, I want our stock to do well. As a parent, I want Tammy and I to be able to sit back in several years, raise a toast and acknowledge that, “Yes! We did it. Twice. Two for two.” I like our chances.
Have a good one and a better tomorrow.
On occasion, Kela sends Duke and I new music to peruse. On this night, she sent a cool one. And since we are going to do like the cool kids and talk in the third person, “Ol Kelln got himself a new theme song.” I love it.
