To the show pig that showed me

There we were, deciding if this was the year we would go with one species for the show year or make ourselves just a bit more frazzled hauling in two sets of tack, hoping show schedules wouldn't overlap and deciding how to divide and conquer two species at the stock show. 

But our county stock show made that decision for us. Sort of. Not really. The premium sale at our county show doesn't allow heifers in the sale. And since that's our main project, we had to decide to stick with cattle and get a show steer, or choose another market animal to raise for the county stock show. 

As much as the exhibitor of these show projects would have loved to have a steer, the mother - and voice of reason - knew this busy family just didn't have the time or budget to do it the right way. At least not this year. At the time the decision was made I was thinking of the competing extra-curricular activities that jeopardized available time after school, a kindergartner adjusting to longer school days and evenings, and a husband that travels for his job to support our family and thus wouldn't be an extra set of hands for the majority of daily chores. Let's face it, I took the easy road and decided we'd get a show pig for the second year in a row rather than overwhelm ourselves with the workload of two show calves. There was no way we were giving up the show heifer.

After all, we'd done this last year. By no means did we think we knew it all, but we were fairly certain we were capable of raising a decent show pig without major catastrophe. And besides that, we had a pen all set up and ready to go. 

And then you showed up here looking nothing like what we expected. You see, we were expecting a smaller pig, but you showed me you would grow and turn out just fine then coast into your final show just a few pounds under the weight limit. We were expecting a dark colored pig because we don't have an indoor barn to protect you from sunburn, but you showed me we'd just have to find a way to provide shade for you.

You really weren't a very cute pig - and yes, there is such a thing, but you showed me I'd soon alter my definition of cute.

And here's another thing: we promised our show pig last year that he was the very best and we'd never get so attached to another one. But you showed me I'm a liar and we broke that promise within a week of your arrival.

I had show pigs of my own when I was growing up and you showed me that I still remember enough to get by but at the same time everything I thought I knew has changed. You showed me how to learn, how to ask for help and how great it is to give my kids the opportunity to gain skills that will benefit them long after your show year was done.

You showed me I really need to work on my patience, especially with my kids on days we were trying to get chores and work done and just didn't seem to have enough time. That's a reality check I wish I didn't need.

Unfortunately, you showed me the not so great things about stock shows. Like how some people are not so friendly when crammed into the chaos of a crowded pig barn. And as much as they want you to believe it, not everyone is in this for their kids - there exists in the stock show world selfish adults that don't always follow the rules. That's a shame and a reality all at the same time. But enough of that negativity. You showed me they don't matter.

You showed me the great things about stock shows too, like how there really are some people that want to help, and how I just have to trust myself to recognize them and thank them for their guidance and support. And that my kids are building friendships and memories that are sure to serve them well in their future.

You showed me that my kid would learn to win and learn to lose when he set out for the show ring. It wasn't easy seeing his hopes crushed when he didn't win a class or make the sale, but you showed me this was a great format to learn those life lessons. You showed me what it meant to build character - for myself and my kids. 

You showed me that teaching my kids about real livestock production and where food comes from is important. This project was a mere micro-slice of what real production is like, yet the end result was the same. And even though we knew your fate of growing to market weight to provide meat, it was more than we could handle when the time came to send you off. But we gave you the best care we knew how. Because we are human and compassionate. You showed me that my kids were not prepared to learn such a tough lesson two years in a row, yet they handled it with much more maturity than I gave them credit for. Me, not so much. 

So thank you, Jordan, the show pig. You showed me that being a stock show mom is tough yet fun, crazy yet fulfilling, and worth every pen-cleaning, feed-mixing, schedule-altering, trailer-loading, stinky clothes-washing, suitcase-packing, belt-finding, picture-taking, family-bonding stressful moment to spend time with my kids caring for an animal that showed me way more than we showed you.

Sincerely,
Stock show mom