Our culture pushes us to keep moving forward, or to “just keep swimming,” and that common motto can sometimes be to the detriment of ourselves and the kids who are looking to us as role models. Before the Grand Drive, during the pre- grand drive show and fireworks, I
the showring. Leave your mark on the industry, not for the number of banners that hang on your wall, but for the impact you made on the future leaders of our industry.
another.” Find your community. Whether it is within the livestock industry or your community at school, find people who you can fall back on when you are at your lowest of lows and who you can celebrate with in your highest of highs. Those people will drive you to be a better
I am immensely grateful for the people who have helped me not
remember looking around and seeing young exhibitors’ eyes alight with wonder, excitement and, of course, nerves. All I could think about was when I was that age, feeling those exact same emotions and watching the most incredible thing unfold in front of me as I was prepared to walk onto the greatest arena, “The Dirt.” In that moment, I was not thinking about the future or what was to
person and push you to have a passion and drive for everything that you do. In return, you make them a better person, leading each other to Christ. Once you find them, cherish every single moment with them because, before you know it, you will be entering the ring for the very last time and leaving to go into an entirely different stage of life. As a freshman in college and an almost-retired
124
come. Instead, I was grateful for every hardship and joy I had experienced throughout my show career. I was thankful that, now, as I move onto my next step in life, I understand that the impact I make on the people around me is so important. Therefore, I urge you to “swim against the current” and be different. Be the outlier who stays, who reflects on the past, and gives back to their community for the betterment of the future kids who will one day be in your exact position. Be a person for those young kids to follow and aspire to be like, both in and out of
only have success in the showring but also become the person I am today. The people who have made an impact on my journey have sculpted me and guided me on a path of success, passion, integrity, and, most importantly, faith. I will never be able to give those people enough gratitude and hugs to amount to the love I have for each and everyone of them. I believe it is of the utmost importance to have a community of people who make you a better human being and follower of Jesus Christ, and, in that same way, you guide each other. Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens
livestock showman, I promise you that I would go back any day to spend one more late night in the barn having a “nice” family disagreement or gut pens for the second time in one day late at night at a show because my dad thinks they NEED to be done again. While you have the chance, I urge you to laugh harder…stay longer…hug tighter…and cherish every moment you can with your people, because those are the moments that will last forever. ●
Powered by FlippingBook