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2008 July Herdsire Issue
Winning isn't everything
by Kade Hummel
As most of us start the showpig season, we have one thing on our minds. To win! This is what we all strive for, isn’t it?
The first show comes, and we gear up to see everyone’s pigs. Who has the one to beat, and can we beat them? But then, we don’t do as well as we think we should, and we get beat.
“The judge was hard to follow,” or “the show was over before it started” are just a couple of excuses we all use and hear. Trust me, we’ve heard them all.
Did you ever stop to think why your kids became involved in the NJSA, 4-H or FFA? Was it just to see how many banners or trophies they could gather, or was there another reason?
The first time I showed any type of livestock, I placed second from last. I didn’t understand why, but I also didn’t care. I got my first ribbon! It was a participation ribbon, but it was mine, and I earned it. I hung that ribbon up in my room and looked at it the entire next school year.
The funny thing was, if you went into my older brother’s room, you would have seen tons of banners that he had won at jackpot shows and county fairs. My ribbon was more important to me than his entire set meant to him.
As I got older and proved I could handle the responsibility of the day-to-day care, I got better stock.
We had a good run with my sheep the last year I showed lambs, and we had three of the eight in the grand-champion drive at the state fair. After that success, I no longer enjoyed showing sheep. That was the last time I got into the ring holding a lamb. I just couldn’t see the reason if I didn’t enjoy it anymore.
I’m thankful that no one pushed me into something I didn’t want.
I made a lot of friends and still talk to some of them to this day. I won many shows and had plenty of banners, but I don’t remember winning most of them.
My start with showpigs was a similar story. Success didn’t come early, and I had to work hard to become better. I showed pigs the last nine years of my 4-H career, and I didn’t have as much success with the hogs. However, I have more memories of shows and friends from those nine years than I do anything.
The greatest reward of showing livestock is not always the success you have at the show, but the memories and friends you make.
The real value of what we do in the show ring cannot be measured by trophies and banners. If you do things the right way, showing livestock can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
To the younger generation, you need to find someone who you can listen to, watch and learn from. This mentor should be someone who leads by example and can answer questions about your project or just about life.
This person may be a family member, ag teacher, 4-H leader or breeder, but find someone who does things the right way without question. They will teach you about the way you should approach life and not even know they are doing it.
Without role models, we don’t have anything to base our goals upon. I see it so often today – young people look to celebrities or athletes for their role models and oftentimes miss the real heros right here at home.
We, as adults, are given so many chances to help the youth of today, even just in the way we host our shows and leadership activities. The more opportunities we can give young people to get involved, the better off we all will be.
I have been impressed by the young people that I have come in contact with since I started my position with the NSR and NJSA.
Many of these youth have left a lasting impression on the development of this organization. Without their involvement, the NJSA would not have experienced the tremendous growth it has seen since its inception in 2000.
I hope you all have a safe and memorable show season, and I’ll see you down the road.
