All Good Things Must Come to an End (Ch. 2)

All Good Things Must Come to an End1

Some people may say “dogs are man’s best friend,” but I believe that cows can also have a strong connection with people.  It is truly amazing the impact dairy farming had on me.  It gave me a sense of hard work and accomplishments.  My cow Kelly was amazing.  Throughout only a few years of adolescence, I won Grand Champion in Showmanship with her, kept her even when we sold our cows, but as in the end of everything, I had to say goodbye to her. 2

Over the years I learned the aspects of showing a cow and how to make it look easy.  My calf, Kelly, was my prized possession.  She cooperated the best out of all the animals I had ever shown, and she also looked amazing.  I did not have to work hard in order for her to lead at the right speed, set up her legs, or even hold up her head.  When the Olmsted County Fair came, I was positively going to be competing for the title of Grand Champion in Showmanship.  As I walked into the ring with Kelly at my side, I walked with confidence and a great big smile to catch the judge’s attention.  We led our animals around the ring, set them up, and even had to back them up, a task which I had practiced with Kelly numerous times.  The judge asked us questions about our animal, what they ate, and how long we had been showing for.  I answered them all correctly and with style.  You could say I was feeling very confident until the judge started to pull what seemed like everyone except me into a smaller ring in the middle of us.  I was starting to get worried.  I remembered back to my other class earlier that day the winner had been pulled in right away, but now it seemed that he had forgotten about me.  Just as I was about to give up, I looked up at my parents in the audience.  They were grinning from ear to ear as I was becoming one of the three last people he pulled in.  That gave me a little more confidence because they seemed to know that this was a good thing.  Finally, the judge pulled me in last, and he announced that I had won the title of Grand Champion Show person.  I had the biggest smile on my face as I received my purple ribbon and led Kelly around the arena.  She had done everything I could have ever asked from her, and I was so proud.  As I walked back into the barns everyone was congratulating me, and my parents gave me a great big hug.  That summer was the hardest I had ever worked with any of my show animals, and I was very proud of my accomplishments.  3

October 1, 1999 is a date that will forever stick in my mind; this was the day that we sold our cows.  At the time I was looking forward to getting rid of them because then I would not have to help with all the chores at night.  Sure, I had to still feed the calves, but only for a few more months until they grew older.  However, selling the cows meant saying goodbye to all of my show animals--except Kelly.  My uncle, Carl, still owned a dairy farm, so my brother, sister, and I each got to choose one animal to have at Carl’s.  This was an easy choice for me; I just could not say goodbye to Kelly, yet.  My sister had the hardest time because she had learned to love the animals and the dairy farming life.  At the time I thought she was crazy for being so upset because no cows meant less work, but now that I look back, I regret not taking advantage of our dairy operation.  Over the last few years I have really grown to love being with the animals and helping out any chance I get on the farm.  Another reason that I regret selling our cows is that I only have a selected few animals that I can show at the fair in the summer.  I am very thankful that my uncle, Carl, still runs his dairy farm, so I am still fortunate enough to raise my own cattle.4

In April of 2001, I had to say goodbye to Kelly.  It was a Sunday afternoon, and I had just finished with our last performance of the play, “The Wizard of Oz” when I had to go out to my uncle’s house to say goodbye.  Kelly had gotten metal in her stomach, and she was very sick.  When I got out there Kelly was in the barn, almost as if she was waiting for me.  I put a halter on her and led her outside.  We walked around the yard for about 10 minutes, and then my parents told me I had to say goodbye.  When I stopped her, she set up her legs just perfectly, like I had taught her.  I remember standing there for about five minutes just looking at her and crying because she was my favorite animal that I had ever shown.  I could not believe that we had to sell her.  I gave her a hug (as good of a hug as you can give a cow) and embraced her as tight as I could.  Within a matter of seconds, I remembered everything that I had ever been through with her.  I remembered the summer when I won Grand Champion in Showmanship, getting ready for the fairs, and falling asleep next to her during long days at the fair.  I had had a great few years with her, but in a way I was looking forward to having a new “favorite” show cow.  I will always remember the lessons that Kelly taught me, and how I really proved myself to be a good show person with her.5

After all we went through, I still remember Kelly and smile.  She taught me many lessons in those few short years that I had her, and I am very thankful for every day that I got to spend with her.  She gave me the courage to compete against older kids, especially in showmanship.  I realized how important Kelly was to me when we had to sell our cows, and then it was obvious to me once again as I said my final goodbye to her.6