Written for the Custer County Chief
Chief Sports & Editorial
I was a 4-H member for 11 years and truly enjoyed competing in both livestock and home economics projects. I loved sewing; firing up my machine was my go-to hobby for snow days off school and just when I needed something new to wear. I always exhibited multiple garments at the fair. Sometimes I won and sometimes I got beat. Sometimes I got beat by people that I know couldn’t sew a lick but had moms that were great at sewing. How do I know that? I had adult living class with them and they couldn’t thread a needle if their life depended on it. Since the beginning of time, there have been people that cheat and it is not exclusive of the fair.
Fast forward to my days as a 4-H mom and club leader. There was nothing that woke the mamma bear more than watching my daughter get beat in beef showmanship by a kid that bragged about “medicating” his steer so it would stand calmly, almost comatose actually, after she had worked her butt off to get her calf show ready. Clearly she should have won but again, there are always people that cheat and when they win, they think they deserve it!
In addition to the cheating, there are also those that don’t cheat but get accused of cheating. As a matter of fact, and not just a mom brag, our middle daughter was an outstanding swine showman. In fact, she was the champion every single year at our county fair and even won the Nebraska State Fair. Despite her long history of success, there were still rumors that she won because “she knew the judge.” Hogwash! If you can’t beat them, bash them.
By now you are wondering, “Why on earth would I subject my kids to this?”. Well folks, competing at this level isn’t just preparing them for cheaters at the fair, this is preparing them for life. First of all, if you created a garment, raised a turnip, built a rocket or trained a stubborn pile of beef, you have already won! There will always be people who bend, break and ignore the rules. You can teach your kids that their success isn’t measured by how they stack up to others but by how they up their game from their previous effort.
Second, relationships matter. Building strong friendships and networking with peers and industry leaders is priceless. Integrity matters. Despite what people may say, the truth always comes out. The cheaters are always revealed and from then on, they will have to work to improve their reputation or live with that baggage.
So don’t hesitate to compete at the fair. It’s full of great life lessons, great learning experiences and great networking opportunities that will thicken your skin, steel your resolve and prepare you for life that isn’t always “fair”!
Very well said Kelli!