the beach-less vacations and the sacrifices made for one more road trip to a show three states away or one more heifer. Those individuals ignited a passion in us, a passion that burns as strong today is it did over forty years ago. That same passion is alive and burning strong in the eighth generation. Luke and Chase know that if it were not for the legacy of the generations before them, they would not appreciate their hard- earned victories or understand the importance of building a strong breeding program. Our family takes great pride in raising quality cattle that perform in and out of the show ring. Harkers Unleashed and Harkers Honey Bea, full siblings, have not been strangers to the winner’s circle. Both individuals have walked away with a couple of Supreme Champion banners. While the victories
have been memorable, breeding livestock that excel in the show ring and as well as in productive herds is a greater accomplishment. Although the wins in the show ring are rewarding, the fact that our sons have learned to have true grit—a backbone, brave spirit, and strength of character to follow their passion despite the wins and losses. They are not only fulfilling dreams but also accomplishing a goal and marking their place in history. Some believe that without history, our lives amount to nothing. At some point we have to choose; do we fall back on what we know or do we step forward into the unknown? Our history is what shapes us, what guides us. We have to remember that sometimes the most important history is the history we are making today. •
219
Powered by FlippingBook