Everyone has their times when they feel like they did something really well or that they are on top of the world. It is a time when people are proud of them for whatever they have done or accomplished. This moment may not be something that you have won an award with but it can be a time when you feel that you accomplished something for yourself.
In my life a time when I have felt this way was when I won junior beef showmanship at my county fair. I remember it clearly and it just seems like it happened not too long ago. It was my first time showing cattle and I was really nervous but I knew what I was doing and everyone had told me that I was doing really well that day. So when it came time for showmanship I was feeling confident but yet I was still scared. I remember when the judge came to talk to me. He put his arm around my shoulder and just asked me questions about myself. After waiting for him to get done talking to everyone he grabbed the microphone and talked a little bit about each of us. Then he said he was going to shake the winners hand. This is when I got really nervous but sure enough the judge walked right over to me and shook my hand.
I was so happy that I had won and I knew that all of my family and friends were very proud of me because this was my first year of showing. Looking back I remember how excited I was and how my heart was racing a hundred miles an hour. The year after that I won intermediate showmanship and three years after that I won senior showmanship. So I had started showing in fourth grade and I had won all three showmanship levels by the time I was an eighth grader and this was something that was not very common at our fair.
Looking back now I wish that I could have still shown in the showmanship competition but since I had won the senior showmanship I was done. Winning showmanship may not seem like a big deal to someone that doesn't show any animal but for people that do you probably know what I'm talking about. You get a feeling that you have succeeded because it has something that you won personally. It's not something that your calf could win for you. This to me is something that I will always cherish and think that I was at my best during those times.
That's really cool. Congrats for one thing! I kind of know what you mean, I've never shown animals, but I competed in speech events, and winning was one of the times I felt my best. I can relate to the feeling you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteI have shown cattle back in the day and that is quite the accomplishment. I never won any showmanship with cattle though. Only with pigs. The feeling is great and good job!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Anytime you succeed something, it feels pretty good. I wouldn't have a clue how to do something like cattle showing, so I commend you for it. Good work.
ReplyDeleteThats really cool that you won all three divisions in just a few years. And on your first time ever doing showmanship. It sucks that you can't keep doing it once you've won all three divisions.
ReplyDeletewow congrats! That seems like a huge accomplishment, especially at such a young age! I have no idea what it takes to show cattle so I'm sorry about that but it can't be easy and to win all three divisions so quickly really is amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's such a great accomplishment. I really don't know much about showing animals, but it was a big deal at my high school so I know it is a major achievement. It was always the main event at my local fair and I don't know of anybody who had reached all three levels by the 8th grade. That is pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you're talking about!! It is such a great feeling. I regret not doing junior showmanship when I first started out, I was so nervous! But, I did win Grand Champion Beef Steer my first year and I probably felt the same feeling you did. Congrats on that great accomplishment! :]
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty great I must say. I too know what you're talking about, the showmanship part not the actual winning. I was in 4h for about 5 years and I never really tried to compete in showmanship. Except for one year with one of my pigs and I kinda super sucked I think I got second to last, talk about lame. But congratulations 3 years in a row is impressive.
ReplyDeleteThat's an awesome accomplishment, especially for an Iowan. Well maybe just an awesome for Iowans. But anyways. That is really cool. To win an award that is mainly won by people much older then you while you are in 8th grade is crazy. I wonder what would have happened if you could have continued to show through-out high school?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I don't know much about showing cattle, all I know is that they taste delicious! And it is hard to beat the feeling you get after you succeed in something you love to do. Good job
ReplyDeleteComing from an ag background and showing cattle growing up, I know exactly how you feel!!!! It's a great feeling to have worked hard for that and then to have it pay off. Great job!
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