This past weekend was our county fair. We went out to the fair for lunch on Saturday. The girls and I each were wearing red flip flops, not thinking we would then be visiting the livestock barn. But showing was getting started and since I have a not-so secret desire for our girls to love livestock more than their daddy does and hopefully show in the county fair someday, we walked into the barn in our flip flops. Hunter’s classmate, Miss Lora showed Miss E and Miss A the Hereford steers she and her brother were showing. She offered to teach the girls to brush the cattle while her brother was giving drying them and preparing them to be “pretty” for showing.
Since 1940ish (Grandpa can confirm my guess), our GriggsDakota family farm has had Hereford cattle. White faces, red/brown bodies. Now we have some Angus (black) cattle and bulls too but that was unheard of 20 years ago for us. We still are Hereford proud. It’s like city folk being very proud of their dog’s breed I suppose. My heart beamed with Hereford pride as Miss E brushed the steer.
Miss E didn’t feel the same pride as me. She also is more nervous around animals than Miss A. The steer’s tail swishing a fly and she was done.
Adored with red flip flips in the straw, white hair bow and pink sunglasses, Miss A was ready for her turn but she was done with the Hereford steer. She led Lora to the dairy cows.
The dairy heifer wasn’t so sure was ready for a three year old little girl with a brush in her pen.
We came home with some dust and manure on our red flip flops but the experience in the barn was well worth it. And who doesn’t love cute shoes in a barn?
Now will the girls take the leap into showing livestock in the county fair someday?
We’ll wait for new day to determine that but all is right when our kids are exposed to new opportunities in front of them and have the ability to choose what they want to jump into to try.
New opportunities over the horizon brings hope, excitement and challenges. But we are soaking in the sun of today and look ahead to tomorrow.
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i was so afraid one of them had gotten stepped on by a cow! so glad that wasn’t the case!
I too was afraid your “lesson” was going to be to not wear flipflops in the barn because someone got stepped on! Glad that wasn’t the case. I’m not sure I would have been as brave… I’ll wear short and tank tops but always still with boots!
I hope to expose my boys to the fair too. And just like you, my husband questions the livestock thing but he does know its value to young children. With all of the onerous regulation being created, I just hope our kids still get the chance to show livestock. It is part of who I am and what makes me me!
I hope to expose my boys to the fair too. And just like you, my husband questions the livestock thing but he does know its value to young children. With all of the onerous regulation being created, I just hope our kids still get the chance to show livestock. It is part of who I am and what makes me me!
I hope to expose my boys to the fair too. And just like you, my husband questions the livestock thing but he does know its value to young children. With all of the onerous regulation being created, I just hope our kids still get the chance to show livestock. It is part of who I am and what makes me me!
nice
What an awesome experience! I’m sure your daughter will never forget this trip. Flip flops are great, but I prefer looking for Arco Pedico for sale. Each girl to her own, eh?