another verse I memorized for kids' church, but it quickly became my life verse and has encouraged me through many hard times in my young life. A few months later—and with a lot of prayer—my dad found me the most gentle little show heifer that has ever stepped onto our property, and that was all it took. My whole family fell in love with "Marshmallow Watermelon Klingaman," as my sister named her. She gave me the confidence to get back in the ring, and I was hooked. Fast forward to the reason I have the honor of writing this article: TSSC Cowan’s Raya M232 ET, or "Favorite Show Cow Ever," as I like to call her. I was so excited when my dad found this little baldy at Boyert-Core’s Fall Sale. I couldn’t wait to start working with her, though she definitely had other plans at first. It took a lot of hard work, but we finally got her broke, and I fell in love with her. We took her to my second Chi and Maine Junior National, and we had a week I will never forget. I was named Champion Rookie Showman, and Raya was selected as Reserve Champion Chi- Composite Female. At just 8 years old, I never thought
I would top that feeling. However, we knew she was special, and my dad and I were determined to keep working with her. I got to show her a few more times, and I just fell more and more in love with her. Our bond is truly something special. When we bought her, we knew we wanted her to end her show career at my very first Ohio State Fair. It was not easy, and even my dad wanted to give up at one point, but my mom and I talked sense into him, and we kept working. Heading to the state fair, I had mixed emotions. I was excited to show my favorite cow, but also sad knowing her show career would be over. When she was selected as Champion Percentage Simmental, I was thrilled— especially because I knew I got to show her one more time in the Supreme drive. My parents explained to me how prestigious this was and how fortunate I was to even get out there as a first-year 4-H member. As I walked to the ring for the last time with Raya, I could feel the pressure. My mom prayed over me, and off we went. I was prepared to have to show her for a long time, but the experience was a complete blur. When
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