One of the greatest opportunities I have ever had is the opportunity to be raised in a barn. I am thankful for my parents to provide such a work intensive learning place for me. Growing up showing livestock my brother and I have been surrounded by great role models and people we look up to. We have been taught many different things from each, but through our time showing we have figured out that consistency and attention to detail are the two most important things to be successful in anything you do. Through the summers we have shown four different species, which we found out takes four times the work. Along with playing football in the fall and wrestling through the winter we always seem to be busy. We have been overwhelmed at times but as a team we get through the early mornings and late nights. This past summer we made sure we kept our priorities straight and did the little things right all summer. Which is extremely hard when you have your hands full and lose a member or two of the team to go to a show. There are only a couple of shows we have the opportunity to go to as a whole family. We spend most of our summer dividing and conquering to get as much done as possible. It’s hard to send everyone to the show when there are three other species at home to work on. Which is why the Illinois State Fair is one of our favorite shows. It’s one of the few shows throughout the summer where the whole family can go. It’s also the busiest show of the year as we take almost everything, leaving our barns empty. It’s the only show throughout the year we take all 4 species too and it’s always been one of the shows we prepare heavily for. This past state fair was definitely one that showed the hours we put in were worth it. As Nolan had the Grand Champion Market Goat and I had the Grand Champion Market Lamb. It is a huge deal to win a market show at your state fair, but to do it with your brother is an experience not many get. The memories we made through the long hours in the small ruminate barn were not always easy, but we made the best of them and in the end, it was all worth it. •
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