Learning Responsibility (Ch. 1)

Chapter 1-Childhood1

It was just another normal evening.  My siblings and I were helping put the cows in, when one cow decided that she was not in a good mood.  She looked right at me, as if to be staring me down, and ran straight towards me, pinning my wrist against the feeder.  Throughout my childhood, I was able to gain different knowledge through different experiences than other kids my age.  Helping my family with farm chores, learning how to show cattle for 4-H, and being the 4-H’s club secretary helped me learn the importance of responsibility.2

Growing up living on a farm means responsibilities, even as a young child.  When I was a young girl, I helped out with the chores on the farm.  My dad and I walked down the manger and I helped him scoop grain and protein into piles for the cows to eat.  Then my siblings and I went out and round up the cows.  As we were doing this, my parents were tying in the cows or getting ready to start milking.  After the cows were in, I helped scrape the walks and then spread lime.  About halfway through chores, we would feed the calves.  We mixed warm water and powdered milk together in ice cream pails for the calves to drink.  (I loved to stick my hands into the powdered milk and just run it through my fingers because it felt so soft and warm.)  I then helped feed the calves and helped out with what I could for the rest of chores.  There are so many different parts that all have to go together to run a successful farm.  This is also true in life.  Responsibility is a necessary aspect in life.  3

Because I grew up on a farm learning about responsibility, I was also able to learn how to exhibit dairy cattle at the fair.  My first calf that I ever showed was named Spud, and I adored her!  In the weeks leading up to the fair my siblings and I had to spend a lot of time working with the cows.  My brother, sister, and parents all taught me the fundamentals of showing a cow such as leading it while holding its head high, setting up the animal’s feet and legs, and maintaining eye contact with the judge.  Throughout the years I became quite experienced with these techniques, but back then my main goal was to get Spud to walk around the ring with me and stay under control.  Finally, the Dodge County Fair came and with it, the much anticipated show day.  As I walked into the ring I felt proud, and relieved, that Spud was cooperating with me.  We had made a round or two in the ring when the judge motioned for us to stop.  Well, the boy behind me did not realize that he was supposed to stop, so he kicked Spud’s back legs to try to get her to walk.  Spud remained calm, but this flustered me.  I tried not to let him bother me, and I regained focus.  I continued on with the show and received a well-earned participation ribbon.  Even after all this time has passed, I still look back and remember my very first show and my first calf Spud.  4

After years of helping out on the farm and taking care of my animals at shows, I decided that I was responsible enough to hold an office for 4-H.  In the fourth grade I was elected to be our club’s secretary.  For the first time in my life I got to sit up at the head table with all the other officers.  Except now I had a responsibility.  As club secretary, I had to take notes on everything that happened in each meeting.  This meant that I actually had to pay attention, and now I could not just goof off at meetings now.  As I sat through the meeting, I wrote down everything that happened, every new idea that was brought up, and everyone who participated in the meeting.  At the end of the meeting as my mom read over my notes she looked up at me and said, “Good job, babes!” and I remember being so proud that I had successfully accomplished my first real responsibility.5

Throughout my childhood I learned many lessons.  Some of these lessons were learned the easy way and some the hard way, but it all left me with a sense of knowledge and responsibility.  These lessons showed me the importance of the duties I held while living on a farm, taking care of animals, and holding an office for 4-H. 6