Sometimes, in some activities, it is easiest to pick the low hanging fruit.  Some may consider this easy, lazy or just simple.  But, sometimes, having somebody new pick the low hanging fruit helps build a taste and therefore a desire.  It then makes them want more fruit, maybe even better fruit.  Therefore, they are willing to work harder to get the harder to reach fruit.

So, if you can motivate a person to grab the low hanging fruit, taste it and they like it, then there is a chance that now they are ready to go find a ladder and work a little harder to get the rest of the fruit.  Maybe they didn’t really like the first fruit but if they could work a bit harder to get a better fruit….And you build from there.  This practice is not uncommon and is used by teachers, coaches and numerous other people in positions of “power”.

Stock shows ain’t no different.  It has became increasingly common to be a part of “camp”.  Not a new deal but definitely more prevalent.  It doesn’t matter what species it is, there are camps, clans, jocks, teams, groups or whatever.  A common phrase is “Who helps them?”

I have fond memories of weekend afternoons when piles of goats, showmen and parents would all roll into here.  Trim hooves, work showmanship and adjust feeding programs.  We saw lots of goats, lots of kids and we didn’t take money for it.  Most of it was low hanging fruit.  People felt like they needed a “jock” to tell them what to do.  It always reminded me of a Bon Jovi song–“Lay Your Hands on Me”.  They just wanted somebody to lay their hands on their goat and bark some orders.

It was cool to watch the younger showmen and their parents when a proven winner would show up.  When Schovanec’s got a goat out, everybody watched how Braden or Halie did things.  As a result, the other kids began to emulate them.  Then after Chesley, Lexi, Bree or whoever won a show or so, all the others started to lookup  at them.  It was cool.  Some were just hoping to win their county, now they set goals to win bigger, work harder.  Go get a ladder.

The better the kids got, the less I actually had to do.  I could set back and point out the little things in showmanship, feeding, fitting or whatever.  The ones that were really working to grab the good fruit wanted the most coaching and needed the least.  It doesn’t matter the activity, it works this way.  I always liked it when the Foraker kids would bring stock to Fargo, America.  They didn’t need much.  They just needed another set of eyes to confirm what they were seeing.  And if they could pick up a new tidbit or two, even better.

The others–well, they were hoping that a laying on of the hands and  some instructions would change their whole success pattern.  It really didn’t matter who helped them.  Until they changed their ways, success on a high level would not be consistent.  “I fed what you told me to do.”  Sure, but you also didn’t exercise or practice showing like I told you to do.  This type changes who helps them, changes feeds, changes where they buy their stock, changes, changes, and nothing ever really changes.  They just keep looking for that perfect peach, right there.  Easy to reach.  But they should have worked a bit to grab a better fruit.

I do have fond memories of dealing with a pile of good goats.  I don’t want to do it again.  I would and I will but dang, it will be done differently.

Speaking of pie, it is getting close to Thanksgiving.  I always give thanks for some raisin cream pie.  But, I would also be thankful with cherry or peach or apple.  Actually, I am looking forward to Nov. 21.  I bought 5 pies from the TSA kids at Shattuck.  These pies will be cooked by some Amish bakers east of Tulsa on that morning and then delivered straight to Shattuck.  I plan to sample them all that day.  I just hope that the fruit was the best, not just some low hanging stuff.  I will work hard to eat this stuff.

Crank up some Bon Jovi, get off your ass and work to win.  Dude(s), I’m out! I’ve got stuff to do.  You do to.  GOD bless you and yours.