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Yesterday I was at a stock show. I saw show halters, combs, and nervous exhibitors. I saw pump sprayers, show sticks, and game faces. I saw shampoos, adhesives, blankets, blowers, fans, showboxes, chutes, stands, and fitting mats. I also saw high-five’s, handshakes, slaps on the back, smiles, and hugs. And my favorite scene? As a swine exhibitor returned to the pens after his class, his friends made a human tunnel in the aisle for him to walk through with his pig. Oh, sure, there was intense competition going on, no doubt about it, but there was also an encouraging community present – exhibitors congratulating one another, kids cheering for one another, and families helping one another. It’s a unique community. Youth are building leadership skills, growing their character, and preparing for careers. Working with others to set goals and accomplish them is critical to success and fulfillment. Celebrating the wins – small and big, yours and others’ – is important to thriving beyond the daily grind. You can witness all of this at a stock show. What do you see when you walk into a stock show? You can choose your focus. Do you swear it’s all about politics? Are you focused on the high-priced animals or drawn into the rumors of cheating? Do you love the drama you think you see or do you choose to focus on the celebration of youth who are learning valuable lessons, enjoying serious competition, and creating lasting relationships? I know which perspective is…

Continue reading You Won’t Believe What I Saw at the Stock Show This Weekend

Some of my fondest memories are loading up in the truck with my dad and younger brothers to head to a jackpot show. Chilly mornings, cramped truck rides, and then a day full of showing pigs always made for memorable trips. One weekend I had gotten frustrated, though, and Dad gave me a little pep talk by telling me about some girls older than me who had been very successful in the showring and industry. I didn’t know them but he referred to them as “the Bentley girls” and I understood that the youngest of these sisters was about five or so years older than me. Fast forward to my freshman year of high school. Through some great luck, I attended the National FFA Convention in Kansas City that fall as a freshman. Having been an FFA member all of about 60 days, I wasn’t really sure what was going on and didn’t yet know any of the programs or people. However, my advisor made certain we attended one general session in particular because of the speaker. I can still remember where we were sitting. We were to the right of stage, way up in the top rows, hardly able to see the podium. The time came for the introduction of the speaker. It was the retiring address of one of the national FFA officers. Neat, I thought. The speaker was a girl who had grown up on a farm in Ohio. I was more interested. She had shown pigs…

Continue reading You may not know them, but they know you

With each passing week as the summer rolls on, another junior national comes to a close and more county fairs have named their champions. Maybe you won the banner. Maybe you won your class. Maybe you didn’t bring home any new hardware. Maybe you worked the better part of a year on this project and now feel like you’ve got nothing to show for it. “But winning is not the point.” Pat Summitt, legendary women’s basketball coach, passed away recently and, among the many articles and tributes I read in the days following her death, I came across a column dated June 28, 2016, in the Washington Post written by Sally Jenkins. Included in the column was a letter that Coach Pat Summitt wrote to one of her young players in 1982. The first paragraph of the letter reads: “Shelia, This is your first game. I hope you win for your sake, not mine. Because winning’s nice. It’s a good feeling. Like the whole world is yours. But it passes, this feeling. And what lasts is what you’ve learned. And what you’ve learned about is — life. That’s what sport is all about — life!” So if you win the next show? Awesome. Congratulations, sincerely. But remember, winning passes and what will last with you are the lessons you’ve learned and the foundation you’ve built for yourself. And if you don’t win? Here’s the final section of the letter penned by Coach Pat Summitt: “Winning is fun . . . Sure. But…

Continue reading Winning is not the Point

Can you believe summer is flying by already? World Pork Expo just wrapped up last week and national junior heifer shows kick off this weekend! If you’re participating in a speaking contest this summer at a junior national event or your local county fair, we’ve got some tips on nailing the delivery. Good luck! Plant your feet, unless it’s meaningful. Extra movement that doesn’t add anything to your message can be very distracting. You’re much better off to deliver your speech with fewer, meaningful movements rather than walk constantly throughout your delivery. So, set a “home base” that your feet adhere to when not intentionally moving. I’ve judged quite a few speaking contests for students, and I’d always prefer to see a student who plants their feet for periods of time rather than aimlessly walking throughout the entire speech. You’ll appear more confident and be able to make more effective hand gestures. Move as much as you want from the waist up, but think carefully about when and how you move your feet. Talk to me, not at me. The judges of the contest should not be observers of your speech. They should be recipients of your message. Speak directly to them (and others) in the room (even if you’re looking at the tops of their heads). Whether a prepared or extemporaneous speech, think of your delivery as a conversation – where you’re the only one talking at the moment – and use that conversation mindset to guide your tone…

Continue reading 4 keys to slay your junior national speech delivery

Every project starts with the same dream. We all want to win the big show, take home the banner and be the last one standing when the judge puts down the mic at the end of the day. While there’s no way to guarantee this dream will become a reality, there’s only one way it’s even possible. You have to have determination. Earlier today I was enjoying lunch out with my husband B.J. and was captivated by an ESPN feature on the television screen nearest our table. The show told the story of Carlos Correa, now a Major League Baseball player for the Houston Astros. Correa grew up in Puerto Rico in a family with few resources and, yet, was successful in his pursuit of baseball. He would rise early, focus on schoolwork, and practice diligently – every day. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him or his family and I’m confident many sacrifices were made, but his relentless determination resulted in him being the first overall pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. Determination is a drive to succeed – an unwavering desire to accomplish the goals you’ve set for your project. It is working intently to achieve your dreams regardless of the opposition you might encounter. We all know, over the course of your project, you’ll face lots of opposition. Your calf might go off feed, your pig might be stubborn while you’re training it for showmanship or you might be tempted to shortcut practice in the…

Continue reading Every project begins with the same dream, but there’s only one way it’s even possible.

Thank God for Moms… the glue that holds everything and everyone together on show day! Where would we be without them? They truly are what makes the stock show world go ’round. Which stock show mom is in your family? Food Mom – Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks …she’s a shining star. She truly believes that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. She brings enough food to feed the entire barn and graciously welcomes any and all to stop in at their pens for a bite to eat. Her crock-pot game is strong and at any given point she may have several of them fired up keeping the family favorites warm and ready to eat on demand. Sloppy joes, cheesy potatoes, walking tacos…she’s got an excel spreadsheet to document any and all meals appropriate to take to a show. She’s a care taker through and through. Her motto: “You can’t be at your best in the show ring on an empty stomach”. Hair Mom – She’s high in demand on show day. The Mom who can do hair is truly an asset. She most likely invented the French braid. Curls, buns, the perfect pony tail and even the hair poof look are no match for her skills. Always prepared, her purse contains a mirror, bobby pins and extra hair ties. Just give her a brush and heck, if she doesn’t have hairspray, she’ll just do it with adhesive. Every little girl dreams of hitting the ring…

Continue reading Six Moms You Meet at a Stock Show