I was a fair kid.
I showed sheep.
I showed horses.
I spent late nights at the barn playing euchre.
I also spent late nights in the barn getting into trouble.
I was President of 4-H Junior Leaders.
I was on the 4-H Council.
I was Miss Morgan County.
I was an adult leader.
I was Assistant Sheep Superintendent.
I haven’t been any of these things for over 6 years. I haven’t even been a visitor of the county fair that I grew up at.
I cried all my summer tears at the county fair when I sold my lambs. I won Senior Showman for horses and about cried. And had my last and final year of 4-H as the Fair Queen fly by me, and not even realize it was over until the following Monday and I cried for a solid hour straight.
Nearly every memory from my summer was spent getting ready for the county fair, and the rest of the year I threw myself into every other area of 4-H. And it paid off, a full scholarship to Purdue was something I was proud of, even prouder that it came from something I lived, breathed, and loved for 9 years of my life.
Tonight, I nearly cried all over again as I drove home to my parents’ and realized that my daughter will never be apart of the county fair that played such a big part of who I am today.
And I know that one day I will cry all over again when she finds something she is passionate about and throws her entire being into it.
Here is to all the happy tears of watching our babies grow and choose their own path in life.
But, until then I love that I can share the memories of something that was so special to me and bring joy to the lives of the people that truly impacted mine.
Carrie Daly says
Can’t your daughter be a 4-Her in S.D.? My kids are active in a different club than my husband and I were in, but we’ve made some new friends, and the general idea is still the same– Head, Heart, Hands, Health ๐
Love your blog! Check us out at http://www.livingthedalylife.blogspot.com
SDFarmWife says
Oh yes! She can be…but there is just something about the idea of your child growing up in the same program that you did! ๐
Thanks for reading!
PS- Love your blog too!