After living on my grandparents’ farm for a year, I was involved in 4-H from the ages of 11 to 17. I took to farm life, to the cows, the work, my first foray into how sheer exhaustion shuts the brain off, a beautiful result of hard labor. 4-H is a pretty common club for kids in the country to be a part of, although it’s not just for farm kids. It’s not a Christian group, thankfully. The title of this essay, “To Make The Best Better” is its motto, and the 4 H’s are head, heart, hands and health. People choose programs based on their interests, it’s not all animal husbandry, but livestock is the most popular activity. If you’ve ever walked through the animal stalls or exhibition hall at a fair, most of those entries are by youth in 4-H. My Uncle Kenny was a dairy farmer who coached the Baltimore County Dairy Judging Team. My activities were dairy cattle, dairy judging and marksmanship.
I don’t blame you for wanting your jacket back (omg sire power), but I will pay you cash money for a t-shirt with the lyrics to Changes translated into Russian 🙏
I just read this while hanging out at the Fryeburg fairgrounds in Maine, while my 12 year old daughter gets her heifer loaded in to the barn. She does 4-H beef showing and this weekend is a youth show plus auction. It’s such a new world to me. Thanks for all the info about the dairy judging side of things. It’s definitely taught her a lot about hard work and animal husbandry. She’s thinking about vet school and farming but who knows, she’s 12. For now, I hope she enjoys the ride.
My favorite Substacks are the Substacks where I Learn Things, and this has delivered in spades. Thank you for your service!
“Was a contender” Could picture you on 50’s Hoboken rooftop crowned by Basquiat!
🤯❤️👏👏👏❤️😭🤣
I don’t blame you for wanting your jacket back (omg sire power), but I will pay you cash money for a t-shirt with the lyrics to Changes translated into Russian 🙏
I just read this while hanging out at the Fryeburg fairgrounds in Maine, while my 12 year old daughter gets her heifer loaded in to the barn. She does 4-H beef showing and this weekend is a youth show plus auction. It’s such a new world to me. Thanks for all the info about the dairy judging side of things. It’s definitely taught her a lot about hard work and animal husbandry. She’s thinking about vet school and farming but who knows, she’s 12. For now, I hope she enjoys the ride.
Footnotes are the greatest 🙏🏻