lot of time getting Chief ready together. We were all disappointed when we heard the news that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo had been canceled due to COVID. However, we knew that we had to try to stay positive and focus on the future. That summer, Caden and I spent every day in the barn together working with our new steers. We practiced showmanship over and over until we got it right. We cleaned stalls for what felt like forever. It was hard work but Caden made it fun. We listened to music while we worked and he helped me so much with my steers. By the end of fall we were ready for a great year at the majors. One morning in early December, my mom had to tell me that Caden had been in a car accident the night before and passed away. This was the toughest loss I have ever been through. I even had a hard time going back to the barn. I really looked up to Caden. He taught me how to work hard and have fun at the same time. He loved showing and being with the cattle more than anyone I’d ever met. Working with my steers without him was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do but I knew I had to do it for Caden. A few weeks later, I showed Ringo one of our favorite steers at The Patriot and was named Reserve Polled Hereford. I learned that day that hard work pays off and that I can push through tough times and come out stronger on the other side. I have felt Caden with me in the barn and at every show since. I try to remember the things that he taught me. The last few years my passion for
showing livestock has grown. I have learned so much and am trusted with new responsibilities each year. I have other hobbies that I love dearly, including football and spending time with my friends but I’m finding that I want to spend more and more time in the barn. This year we got a Simmental calf that we knew would be special. After he was dehorned, we gave him the name Woozy. He quickly became one of my favorites. He was breed champion at a few summer shows and was Grand Champion at the Tom Green County Show. As we got closer to majors, we knew that Houston was the show for him. I worked harder with Woozy than I ever had before. Everyday after school, I headed straight to the barn. As the week of the show approached I began to get nervous. I knew that we had put in the hard work and done everything that we could do but that there were no guarantees. I was in the first breed at Houston and we won the heavyweight class. I was shaking as we went in for the breed drive. I felt excitement like never before when the judge said that “today was my day” and I was named champion Simmental. It had always been a goal of mine to win a class at Houston and it finally happened. I had also been dreaming of showing in the Houston rodeo since I first watched Jett my first year. It was an amazing day. As the week continued things just got better and better. My little sister won her class with her middle weight black cross. We worked with him together and I was very proud of her. I also got to watch my friends
show and they did great. Jett was named Reserve Champion Red Cross which meant we would get to show in the rodeo together. The closer we got to the grand drive, the more my dad and the rest of our team started to tell me that they felt like Woozy had a real chance at Grand Champion. Thursday night my dad hugged me and Trevor Rosso. He told us through tears that Woozy was the best one we’ve ever had and we’ve made him look the best that we possibly could. He said he knew we could do it and that we were going to make it happen. That Friday was a mix of excitement and nervousness as the time for the Grand Drive got closer. It started to rain and there was a possibility that we wouldn’t be able to show in the NRG stadium. I tried to focus and put all of my energy into getting Woozy ready. I got hugs from my family who had all traveled to watch me show. We bought Woozy from Horn Livestock and shortly before prejudging Jagger Horn came and prayed with me, my parents and the rest of our team. I then went and sat by myself and prayed. Then it was time and we were off to the ring for prejudging. Since I was the first breed of the show, I was the first in the ring. I got to walk all the way down the ring. It was just me, Woozy, and the judge. I had a good feeling because the judge stared at Woozy the whole way. The judge spoke to us about how in showing and in life we all experience times of happiness, and heartache but we always have hope. He also spoke about having your own personal hero. His speech really resonated with me. I was at peace with whatever was about
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