I’ve done some really cool stuff during my time on this planet. My bucket list is..well, unique. Let’s get real—I missed my chance at petting a koala. Instead, my daughter got to do that. I can ante up a bunch of cash and go shoot a damn warthog. I should. Probably won’t. And eating a penguin….what do I say?
It has been a whirlwind few days. Get done, load up and head south. Do what we do and then head back home to do what we do. Thanks to the Dragon Lady for allowing me to do this and Duke for coming home to take care of stock.
I’ll be honest. I have wanted and waited for the chance to judge a Texas major goat show. Why not? There was a decade plus that our crew could beat your crew any damn day. I never used any politics, never got caught cheating (swapping out goats, drug tests, etc.)NEVER….we just excelled….wherever. Did I mention NEVER? Shows like state fairs, OYE, Tulsa, Phoenix, Denver, Kansas City. Lots of banners from goats that I bought and/or raised! And we did it without any stench of wrongdoing.
About 2016, I realized that I was not going to get offered a Texas show. I get it. I’m not mad. I honestly get it and am fine with it. But why not Bryan Kennedy, Allan Poe, Mikey Thompson or Tommy Milligan? Seriously. Answer me why not? Okies have been super competitive at all levels of this goat game–buying the best, raising them, showing them, selling great ones, etc. Let’s just keep recycling judges. Anyways……… I get it. However, I dare a stock show to step outside the political arena and just keep it real. Most politics at a stock show start at the top.
It isn’t the same but for damn sure it is. I just got home from judging the San Antonio Jr. Ag Mechanics Show. I judged at A Texas Major. It ain’t the same. I know it. I didn’t get paid a damn $. With hotels, gas & meals for the Dragon Lady and I……it cost me just under a smooth grand. Which I am fine with. I never had a week at Okie State that I spent a $1,000 bucks and I came away with I don’t know….maybe $50,000 worth of learning. Priceless.
I was on a team that judged trailers. These trailers had to meet DOT inspections, plus measure square, plus look good plus be functional plus the kids must be able to talk welding processes, bill of materials, paint and electrical.
Now, go back and re-read that previous sentence and imagine judging a stock show and having the showman answer every question from 1 to 3 judges–nutrition, genetics, speed of the treadmill, who aired it, loineye area, etc. etc. –while being judged in class. I’m not even going to comment further as you readers think about the stuff that you have witnessed near a showring. Some of these kids couldn’t pick their animal out of a crowd of 2.
Gotta get back on track.
The San Antonio Jr. Ag Mechanics show is beyond describable. Pictures do not do it justice. Almost 800 projects displayed in numerous barns. Most are professional quality. Try starting the day with a 16′ flatbed trailer built by six 8th graders that could talk the tensile strength of the MIG wire AND the type of primer and paint that they used. Did they have help? I don’t care. Those stock show kids have help as well. These kids were on point at 8 am and Tammy & I went back to visit them at 6:30 pm. They were still on point. They didn’t place. But very few of you ass clowns that read this could build a trailer as good as these kids AND you dang sure couldn’t talk it like they did. It was impressive. The kids, the projects, the show….all of it.
There isn’t enough time for me to write all my thoughts about this experience. Anybody that truly knows me, knows that I grew up a livestock junkie. As a parent, I would rather not talk about the stock show game. As an ag teacher, I have a lot of issues with the current livestock showing industry. As a teacher, parent, supporter…..I am liking this ag mechanics deal. And Texas is ahead of the game. Way ahead.
There is NO SINGLE PERSON on this planet that understands the value of the livestock show industry more than I. I am a product of the stock show industry. I do not care about a banner. I care about the journey. We have problems and WE need to fix it before the problems are exposed.
I was listening to a presentation about a trailer as I watched some San Antonio premium sale (slick sheared) steers were led by, Those were good livestock. We probably ought to slick shear ALL goats. It made sheep better, steers better and it will cost on some sales at first……who cares. Make em all better.
I need to stop. It’s hard to tell my direction.
Glad to have the opportunity. I saw things that I was glad to see.
