“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”-Wayne Gretzky. For the last 2 weeks leading up the Junior National Hereford Expo, this quote replayed in my mind thousands of times. Now the journey wasn’t exactly how we planned, but it turned out better than we could have ever imagined. 2 WEEKS It was exactly 2 weeks before show day. We were at home in Nocona, Texas getting cattle and trailers ready to leave in the next couple of days to go to our layover before Junior Nationals. That morning while we were feeding my dad noticed a bump on my heifer’s pin bone. Not just any heifer either, BACC 241 HALEY 472, who had been extremely successful and a female we were really excited to show this summer. After 2 vets looked at it, the most likely answer... a snake bite. There wasn’t much we could do other than ice it everyday
dad and brothers had their doubts about even bringing her from the layover, but I told them we need to at least keep trying. Show day came and as a family we had our disagreements, but I knew that just getting to show Haley after the amazing run we have had, one more time was enough to get her ready. Once we got her in the chute, we felt like she was going to come together just like we hoped, and the rest is history. WHAT IT MEANS TO ME AND MY FAMILY After showing for 50 years, this was the first time anyone in our family had ever won an owned show at the JNHE. Even after winning 8 Junior Nationals in 6 different breeds, my Dad had never won with his own family. It was truly one of the most special moments I’ve ever experienced, and I am so grateful for everything this heifer has won. BACC 241 HALEY 472 has been one I truly will not forget, from her first win at the Texas Hereford State Show Bred and Owned’s, to her last at the Junior National Hereford Expo, she has been so special to me and
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YOU MISS 100% OF THE SHOTS YOU DON’T TAKE.
and hope for the best outcome and healing.
It was going down, but not fast enough for it to be all the way by show day. My
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