School Excuse Letter

Stock show kids are some of the most intelligent, hardest working kids around. This comes through in everything they do: in the show ring, sports, in the classroom. Sometimes, though, they need to miss school to go to the show. If you’ve ever struggled with explaining to teachers or principals the importance of showing livestock, if you couldn’t find the words to tell them how much the stock show kid learns from their livestock projects, here is the answer: The Stock Show Kid School Excuse Letter.

Dear Teacher/Principal/School Administrator,

Please excuse (insert child’s name) from school tomorrow. He/She will be participating in the (insert livestock show).

We are fortunate that our children can experience showing livestock. You will be thrilled to learn that while he/she will not be present in the classroom he/she will gain many lessons during their time at the livestock show

As a parent, I understand the emphasis placed on reading. Reading is important and I’m glad my child is encouraged to read at least 20 minutes a night. He will keep up his reading time at the stock show. There will be livestock sale promotionals, stock show magazines, and Weaver show supply catalogues. He will read the description of the sale animals, articles about the latest bull, and explanations of the newest show supply equipment. He is interested in these things, so he will understand, ask questions when he doesn’t, and in doing so increase his reading level and comprehension skills.

According to our daughter’s homework she has been learning to count money. She’s doing well. This is due to your excellent teaching skills. It is also because of hands-on experience with her own money. Monetary premiums awarded at livestock shows have helped her to understand saving and spending. She understands that her livestock show animals, their feed and the equipment required to show them all cost money. She gets to keep some of the money. She must save some of the money. She will put some of the money back into her livestock project. This requires an explanation of percentages. Something she will not study until next school year. We are happy that she has a head start. This knowledge will also serve her well when she takes business classes.

Kids who show livestock are so lucky to be able to see firsthand the wonders they have studied in Geography class. From the Rocky Mountains to the Cumberland Gap livestock kids have the opportunity to see the beauty of their state and nation. Along their travels to the livestock show they will pass monuments and historical markers so History class is covered as well.

Special classes such as art and physical education are also important in school. Our kids will certainly engage in physical activity at the stock show. If you’ve never seen a bunch of stock show kids in an empty show ring, trust me when I say they could slay the presidential physical fitness test. Especially if “gate climbing” or “panel swinging” were added as events. Art class is also represented in the patience, focus and talent that fitting an animal for show requires. All lessons that our stock show kids are studying while at the show.

Beyond the basics, we are happy that our schools promote other lessons like humility, respect, pride and character. There is no better place to learn these lessons than in the show ring. At the livestock show our children have reveled in winning. They’ve also felt the sting of losing. In the midst of glory the stock show kid is proud. In defeat, the stock show kid will still shake the hand of the champion and of the judge even as their own eyes fill with tears. Stock show kids encourage and comfort each other. They have fierce rivalries and even fiercer friendships – with the same kids. These lessons in character will serve them for a lifetime.

Truly, I haven’t even scratched the surface of what our child learns from showing livestock. I haven’t mentioned the hard work, the dedication, the family time and team work that goes into making their projects the absolute best they can be. I haven’t mentioned the important lessons they are learning about agriculture, animal husbandry and anatomy.

No, my child will not be sitting at their desk tomorrow. But they are not skipping school. They are not taking advantage of a “free day.” Our child is learning lessons that are important. Curriculum found outside the walls of our beautiful school. Lessons that will aid them when they return to the classroom. Lessons that will follow them throughout their school career and into adulthood. Lessons we are proud to provide.

Thank you for your support and understanding. There is no greater gift we could give our children than to allow them to be stock show kids.

Sincerely,
Proud Parent of a Stock Show Kid

-Kelly Thomas

Kelly and her husband, Chad, raise cattle, sheep and two children in the mountains of
southwestern Virginia. Their kids are the 4th generation to grow up on the farm and
show livestock. Some of the family’s very best days happen in the show barn. Some of
their most contentious days happen there too. Kelly believes that a kid will build life-long
friends showing livestock. After all, she is the girl that married the boy she met in the
show ring. She loves educating children, especially about agriculture. She believes that
even if a kid won’t grow up to work in agriculture the kid still needs to grow up to be a knowledgeable
consumer. Oh, and that ranch dressing should be considered a food group.