Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Growing up in ag<br />
teaches lessons<br />
that last a lifetime<br />
BY DELANEY BARBER<br />
EASTERN IOWA FARMER<br />
Growing up in or around agriculture<br />
sets kids apart from<br />
their peers and shapes their<br />
character in ways they carry<br />
with them the rest of their<br />
lives.<br />
From waking up early in the morning to<br />
feed cows before school to even just being<br />
around livestock in various venues has<br />
taught me many different things that many<br />
kids my age are not taught until later in<br />
life or even at all. These lessons carry over<br />
into school, sports, and even daily habits.<br />
Being a kid in agriculture opens doors and<br />
provides a wide array of opportunities.<br />
One of the biggest door openers is the<br />
livestock show industry. This industry<br />
teaches kids all about what it feels like to<br />
win, but it also teaches losing. Not everyone<br />
can place first in the class, just like<br />
not everyone is going to place last. Either<br />
way, you still need to be proud of the work<br />
that you put in to get you to the ring that<br />
day. So much extra time, effort, dedication,<br />
and sacrifice goes into it. While it may<br />
feel more rewarding when your hard work<br />
pays off and you win your class, you must<br />
realize everyone else worked hard to get to<br />
that place and deserves to feel their success<br />
rewarded.<br />
My personal experiences showing dairy<br />
cattle and in other areas of agriculture have<br />
shaped me into the person I am today;<br />
especially in sports and in school. You’re<br />
not going to win every time, but if you<br />
continue to put in the work, you also won’t<br />
lose every time.<br />
Most of the sports that I am involved in<br />
are individual sports. Going into competitions,<br />
I know I may want to win every race<br />
or match, but I also know that if I consistently<br />
work hard, I won’t lose every time<br />
either.<br />
You call. We Haul.<br />
➤ Septic tank pumping/service<br />
➤ New system installs<br />
➤ Iowa Time of Transfer licensed inspector<br />
➤ Still offering trucking, excavations and dozing<br />
➤ In business 23 years<br />
➤ Serving Jackson and surrounding counties<br />
Shearer<br />
Septic Service<br />
563-349-9451 | Maquoketa,Iowa<br />
Pictured: Ben, Mia,<br />
Evan, and Sara Shearer<br />
76 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | SPRING 2024 eifarmer.com
Change language