Jumping in

Misha, Scooter, and Cali

We have a dog, actually three dogs, two by design, third one adopted us. Cali is bully-beagle. Love her dearly, she is people dog, the best kind. Loves to be with people. She has a habit when food is near or offered, she will without even a sniff grab it into her mouth and go to work on it. Now that's all well and good if it ends up being something she likes, but there are times, she is committed, has it in her mouth and finds out she doesn't like it, or it wasn't what she thought it would be.

Got me to thinking today, aren't we at times like that? That we will jump into things without prayer or forethought, and then realize it just isn't what we thought it would be? Now what? Often times we are stuck, and just have to swallow it. Rare occasions we can get out, and no one gets hurt or disappointed. Other times we are miserable or we leave others short handed or disappointed when we back out.
I tend to be  am a people pleaser, hate to disappoint others even if it means inconveniencing myself (often that is the case, better me than someone else). Have to learn that not everything I'm offered is something I should jump into, wait, pray and listen FIRST, then give the right answer, even if it may be no.

She makes it look easy

Fair is over, was my intent to blog during fair, didn't happen as I'd liked it to. Far too busy, or tired by the time I got back to the camper.
We showed feeder calves on Tuesday, didn't do to bad considering I really didn't sift through calves this spring like I normally do, so it tells me our feeding program is on the right track. Next year we will start with really good calves and that should make a difference.
Wednesday was swine showmanship and the barrow show. Elizabeth was in senior showmanship, the judge worked the kids hard. She made it out of her group and into the honor group. He had them drive, tried to trip them up by walking around their pigs, he put bedding on the pig to see if they had their brushes to clean them up. At one point he had all the kids left, try to get their pigs to stand in one spot, Elizabeth's could stand all day as long as she is scratching him. She looked so relaxed and smooth out there, and ended up winning Senior showman!

Eby and Tuck

Winning senior showman meant she would get to show against the master showman in the club, the best of the best. Showmanship runs oldest to youngest, with senior first, and master last so that the senior winner can let their pig rest before going again. Her partner rested in the pen, while she watched her siblings show. Sara made honor group in Juniors, so happy for her, I think it may be the best she has done in that barn. Jay just missed, had a miscommunication with the judge, thought he was going to talk to her, he wasn't and she cut between him and her pig. Major no no. She will get there I'm sure, just has to wait another year.

Elizabeth's turn to run master showman against two other kids. She was so slow and easy, her partner really worked well with her, did what she needed to do and ended up with this

Senior and Master showmanship winner

 

None of this comes easy. It is work at home that does it. Doesn't matter what your pig looks like or how much money you spend on it, it won't help you win showmanship if you haven't done the work at home. She went on to represent swine club in round robin competition and did so very well. She had to demonstrate showing a pig, and then show a horse, lamb, goat, beef steer, feeder calf, and dairy heifer. She didn't win this time, but now knows what it is like and wants to go do it again.
Proud of all my kids, hard work has paid off!!