Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. That common saying could apply to most every profession out there. Agriculture is no exception.
Farmers and ranchers do the job because for many, it might be the love of the lifestyle. Or it could be the satisfaction of growing something from a tiny seed or egg to a ripe wheat crop or a truckload of heavy weaned calves.
But there’s always people behind the scenes at any operation, organization or company that put in the hours. Whether it be the one who makes sure the house is clean, meals are made and people are fed. Or the one who makes all the planting decisions, pays the bills and puts it all out in the fields. Someone is there for the work.
The same goes for those organizations who try to pour that mindset into kids. Now, I didn’t play sports in school. I was in 4-H, youth rodeo and other activities. I didn’t know what middle and high school sports were all about. I got a little taste when my oldest son decided to play football in middle school. Fortunately, my boys have not wanted to do travel sports, but we do have our own expensive hobbies.
Those hobbies have led us to meet many people who aim to help youth with their livestock projects. One person we met had kids in 4-H when I was still in it. His kids were much younger than I was, but he’s stayed involved through the years and now this person is a trusted source for help with our cattle projects.
Several years ago, the county fair livestock premium auction in my hometown was abysmal. It was disappointing on so many levels for these kids who were suffering through such a sale and experience. A grandparent took notice, as did many of the other parents. In the background that fall and winter, a possible solution was proposed. After much discussion by the fairboard, it passed.
During the past three years, the committee, which I’m part of, has gathered sponsors and supporters for the livestock exhibitors in my county. The kids have been out visiting sponsors and spreading the word about our group. The fair has had more visitors because of it, I believe. Local sponsors were able to be showcased both online and at events. It has been such a great process to be involved with. At the gala event following our county fair, the kids are able to sit down and have a conversation with our sponsors. I hope they get as much out of the experience as I know the kids do.
At this year’s recent gala, we welcomed the ice-cold air conditioning as it was more than 100 degrees outside. Our speaker, the legendary Kirk Stierwalt is where my headline in this column came from, “support the support.” He doesn’t know very many of our kids, but he knows kids as he and his family host a number of show cattle clinics and events each year and have done so since 1987. More than once he said how impressed he was with the kids and the event. And to me that speaks volumes. A total stranger praising an event that aims to help kids continue their show projects.
I ran across a quote from a book by Niedra Dionne Kenny, “You don’t need followers, you need supporters. Followers wait for you to make it happen. Supporters, see to it that you make it happen.” Supporters are the backbone of any event when it comes to organizations that help someone do something. In our case, it’s the youth livestock exhibitors. We need to keep youth involved in agriculture, and by rewarding success in the show ring, it allows them to purchase that next market animal.
Besides monetary support, help those people who are doing the work behind the scenes and making the hard decisions for events like the auction or the fair. Many times, our committee is working in the background throughout the year, not just during county fair or during the gala event. Many of us have full-time jobs and our kids are involved in sports or other activities. There’s only so many ways things can be split up.
I’m glad to be able to support the youth livestock exhibitors in my county. Our county may be the only one who has this type of event, but there are others out there who have managed to support their kids with a traditional sale. Scott County, Kansas, is a much smaller county than my own, but supporters continue to show up in droves.
According to a social media post by a member of the Scott County Youth Livestock Sale Committee, 93 total head/lots went through their sale ring, July 24. Beef averaged $7,551.53/head; goats averaged $2,727.97/head; pigs averaged $2,282.25 /head; and sheep averaged $2,456.35/head. The 4-H members receive the full purchase price.
Those averages are astounding to me! The community’s support for all those kids is impressive, especially for a county with a population that doesn’t even reach 5,000 people. I would guess those businesses, farms, ranches and organizations have to be spread thin with all other activities they can choose to support.
But one comment is especially telling about what a community like Scott City is like. “I was always grateful as a 4-Her, but as an adult, I’m continually amazed at what a supportive community it is. This is incredible! How lucky are we!”
And she’s right. We’re lucky to get to live the county fair life, even if all the work gets shown off during one week of the year. When in reality, work for next year’s county fair has likely already begun.
Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].
