You Never Forget Your First Win

As part of my Livestock Ambassador duties I get to travel and volunteer at Livestock Shows.   I recently got to help with the Scurry County Livestock Show by helping in the ring, selling wood shavings, and helping some of the exhibitors.   While visiting with one family something the mom said stayed with me and I would like to share. This particular family's daughter recently won her first big win the week before at her local show.  She won Grand Champion.   Her mom told me "You will never forget your first win no matter how small". Just so you know, the next day she won R. Grand Lamb. :)

                                    After thinking about my first win I just had to share. 


I can remember when I would get Showbox Magazine in the mail.   I would just look at all the Champions and think this will be me one day.  I can remember going to the barn with my dad one early morning looking out the window and just randomly asking him "Do people ever remember about wining Reserve Champion?".  He had a short and sweet answer to that question "No they do not".

I had taken my two Limousin heifers Princess and Penelope to two shows in the  summer of 2005, San Angelo Spectacular and West Texas Fair and Rodeo.   I can remember in San Angelo I won money and I got to keep it.  I don't remember what place I got because they only gave money and no ribbons.   I think I was a little disappointed about not having a ribbon but the money made it a little better!  At the West Texas Fair and Rodeo I think I had a 2nd with Princess and a 3rd with Penelope.   I can remember there were two rings at Abilene and my dad showed for me in the second.   (Showing is our hobby so I really think he thought he needed to show).   While I handed out ribbons

I would work with my heifers every day early in the morning go to school and come back to the barn and work with them some more.  After the first week I had my two heifers I learned a couple things about them.  Princess, her actual name is RoseMarie.   That is what the breeder named her, My 7 year old self disliked that name so much. LOL   She hated women and girls. She preferred men but grew to love me a tiny bit.  Penelope, her actual name is Palestina, to this day I can't remember the name. I have to look at her paper work everytime.   Penelope loved to escape halters didn't matter where we were she never stayed in her halter.

As the summer of 2005 was quickly coming to an end, my dad and I hooked on our old junkie goose neck yellow trailer with my mom and headed east, To the East Texas State Fair in Tyler, Texas.   We only had Princess for this trip (She was the better of the two).   We made it to Fort Worth, we're pulling into a gas station and our axle breaks and starts a fire.  Not only was it a couple of days after a hurricane, gas prices went up a dollar, and everyone was already on the edge!!   To make this a short part the story the cops were called on us and we were put on our way! Hehe 

We finally arrived at The East Texas State Fair an thankfully they understood why we were late.  Within a few minutes we were all set up and ready to roll.   Other than that all I can remember was there was a girl walking around a 1,500lbs Bull around in flip flops.   Let me say it again flip flops!   I can still remember,  It was show day I was dressed in a little pink sleeveless show shirt I had worn all summer long.  To this day it's still in the back of my closet.  My sister has worn it several times.   I can remember being nervous and a little scared.  Who wouldn't I was 65lbs. of pure sweetness and she was pure 1200lbs of heifer.  When it was time for my class I went in and won! I was so happy!!  My mom and dad were excited as well.

 It came down for the Limousin Champion drive and I was leading!  I led my heifer in like she was a pure Champion because She was of Course!  I got her set and after a few minutes of going back in forth it was time for the Judge's selection.  He announced his Champion and it wasn't me.  I didn't give up and that might have been because I couldn't see over my heifer.  As the 2nd place came in for the Champion drive I just kept smiling hoping he would pick me!  After he talked about the 2nd place he came right towards me got down on one knee and took off his hat I was his Reserve Champion!!!!!  I came out of that ring with so much excitement!  My dad was even started tearing  up.  I can still remember those words I said.  "Daddy I thought people don't remember Reserve Champion's" and his told me "they do when it's their first year".

My two Limousin heifers are now cows living on Hardegree Farm.   Princess has had 5 Heifers.  This past year she had the best heifer she has ever raised and I got the opportunity to keep her as a replacement heifer.  Her name Sunday Rose.  Penelope has had 5 bull calves. You can see my sweet heifers as I still call them, every morning at sunrise in the front field.  They water at noon and evening break.  They still come and say hi for a treat or two.  Princess the picky one still prefers her hand full of creep feed and well Penelope likes her Cake handed to her personally.  You see, a girls first heifers will forever be hers.  They will forever be the smile on my face.

                     In Honor of Rosemaire and Palestina. I love them with all of my heart! <3

A blog about a Steer

There is nothing like reaching a goal or a milestone you have been waiting to accomplish for what seems like a very long time.  People have milestones like,  Running a New York Marathon, swimming across the ocean, or turning 16 finally being able to drive by yourself in a car behind the wheel. (Scary thought)

Whatever the reason, you have set that goal or milestone to accomplish it.  Foxy and I have recently made several milestones in the past week or two! I decided to share! I hope you all enjoy!

 Our first Milestone was we finally weighing more than 1,000lbs!!! This is something I have been waiting on since he got to The Hardegree Farm! Not only did we past the 1,000 pound mark.  We were able to set up in the barn.  This is a HUGE milestone! Foxy hates being on concrete and when the radio is on you can forget it! 
It's not Foxy's best picture keep that in mind.

On the same day we were able to be set up in our pen and turned lose but as you can probably tell he wanted to face the camera!! This was the first time we have stayed in one spot and didn't try to leave! What a stinker!!








Our third milestone had to be being able to take a picture with the flash on! Foxy hates anything waved in front of his face.  Being able to take a picture with flash without backing into the fence is definitely a first!  Everyday his trust and love has grown bigger for me. 

Now our last milestone for this week! I was able to walk all the way around Foxy with out him Kicking or even trying to run away! I am so proud of him and can't wait to see what the next few weeks have in store for us! Until then! Talk to you all soon!

 

I also want to apologize for not posting in awhile.  I hope you all can forgive me!

I will talk to you all soon! :)

 

Steer with A Blog #1

Hi! My name is Springsteen.  I like to think of myself as, Kalynn's Favorite Steer! I was the first show steer to arrive at the Hardegree Farm this year! You can say I am easily "the PRECIOUS BABY" of the Family!  The chosen spoiled one!  My name is Springsteen because Kalynn was in love with that song from.....what's his name....Eric Church and she knew as soon as she saw me my name would be Springsteen! She likes to sing me that song but I really don't like it!  Truth is she can't even sing!  I love her way to much, to tell her that though! If I want her to know, I will tell her myself!

My best friend is Foxy, the wild child of the family.  He has tried to kill Kalynn's Dad about 3 times! He is getting better, with my encouragement!  He is the bestest friend any steer could have! We have had a few adventures that is for sure! From running over a bull snake to sneaking around and getting into trouble like chewing off the the end of the fan plug in. 

My favorite things to do are lay in the sun and get baths from Kalynn. There is nothing like getting a nice long back scrub after a long hot day and rinsed with nice cool water! It is the best feeling in the world. I love getting bathes, I could just stand there all day getting pampered.  It would make me the happiest Steer in the world!  Kalynn loves it when I stand in the pen without my halter on to get blown.  When I enter the show ring, I am always on my best behavior, showing perfect every time.  It's my time to shine! I like being at the top of my class, in my opinion that's where I belong!

I know a lot of tricks, you should come see me sometime! I know how to kiss on demand, give face punches, and most importantly, I can show without the person holding my halter!  Yes, I love to brag about myself!

I love teasing Kalynn by kissing her sister instead of her; and making her mad by playing rough, but HEY boys will be boys!

I always know I can count on Kalynn, she most recently added dirt under my shed because she was afraid everytime it rained that I would get foot rot! The water under my shed never seemed to go away! It worried her something awful, she never wants to see my suffer.  It probably didn't hurt I gave her the puppy dog look everytime it flooded!

Oh No! Kalynn Left the gate open and wild child is fixing to excape, I better go close the gate before he gets out. (It's also one of my many talents!) Well, thats all for this week, check out my blog next week to see what is going on in the life of Springsteen!

Thanks to All the Moms

They are the rock solid backbone of everything we do,
And they live us unconditionally no matter if we win or lose.

They hardly ever get proper credit as they push us to the front,
Never quitting; day to day, week to week, and month to month.

They are the ones that make sure our entry
fees are there on time,
And they know what the bills cost to show
these stock down on the dime.

They also make sure all of our show travel is
completely in order,
No matter if we show in the panhandle
or on the Mexican border.

They even referee us as we fuss, get angry,
and sometimes fight,
After these incidents, we listen intently; they
are always right.

They watch at the show ring and make sure
we are not late,
Sometimes running to the stalls yelling at us
to get to the gate.

Our work always picks up if they happened
to come to the barn,
We all knew regardless of what was going on,
they are the queens of the farm.

To conclude, they are the women that helped
make us who we are today,
The most under appreciated stock show
family member, If I dare to say.

So, thanks to moms for helping us reach our
dreams through stock shows,
We love you more than we say and probably
more then we even know.

All rights go to Chris Boleman, PhD This is one of my favorite poems out of his book Winners Don't Whine, they Hustle A Testament to Dr.T.D. Tanksley, Jr.

Life Lessons I have learned:

Always thank your Mom for everything she has done and will do for you.
Always tell her you love and appreciate her.
Your mom is someone you can always go to when you have no one else to listen to you.

The Beef i Love is Good For You!

This is my short and sweet Beef Presentation.

I am not going to lie; I am a fan of beef.  I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and supper.  I love beef.  There’s no doubt about it.  Everywhere I turn, the media is telling me to eat more chicken and fish.  They say “Stay away from beef”.   I decided that I was going to do some research and find out for myself, the truth about beef.   What I found is shocking.

Hello my name is Kalynn Hardegree; I am a Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and I am also a member of the Mitchell County 4-H Club.   Which would you rather eat 3 ounces of steak or 6 ½ cups of raw spinach.  That's how much spinach you would have to eat to equal the amount of Vitamin B6 found in just three ounces of cooked lean beef.  You would have to eat 3 cups of raw spinach to equal the amount of iron. To equal the amount of Vitamin B 12 in your 3 ounce serving of beef you would have to eat seven skinless chicken breasts.  The list goes on and on.   A 3 oz serving of lean beef has 154 calories and contributes less than 10% of calories to a 2,000 calorie diet, yet it supplies more than 10% of the daily values for 10 essential nutrients.   Those include protein, zinc, Vitamin B 12, selenium, and phosphorus.  Other important nutrients found in beef include niacin, Vitamin B6, iron, and riboflavin.  These help you grow up strong and healthy by developing muscles, producing energy, and helping keep you from getting sick.

Proteins build and repair all body tissue.  Without Zinc you would have trouble healing everyday wounds. Vitamin B12 helps to maintain nerve tissue and normal blood formation.   Vitamin B6 is important in your body because it helps you to use the energy from other foods that you eat.  Beef provides people with a special kind of iron called heme iron.  This type is easily absorbed into the body, and even helps smaller amounts of iron to be absorbed from vegetables and grains! Getting enough iron is especially important for young people because it aids in brain development.   An Iron deficiency, called anemia causes developmental challenges, and research has shown that even short-term iron deficiency negatively affects academic performance.  Have you heard that eating beef or red meat will make you fat?  The studies show, beef does the opposite! The protein in beef contributes to building healthy muscles with fewer calories, and beef helps zap fat! Eating beef and other protein-rich foods helps everyone feel fuller, and therefore consume fewer calories when eaten in moderation.

 

It takes a lot of many other foods- and a lot more calories-to balance your diet, but, to get you the same amount of these important nutrients. Beef’s competitive advantage is that it packs a lot of goodness into a small package!

 

There is nothing like a freshly cooked Rib eye, Medium rare coming off the grill.   Beef is the best tasting vitamin.   Did you know you would have to eat 11 2/3 servings of tuna to get the same amount of zinc found in your 3 oz. serving?  With all this being said it is important to eat other proteins also.   Next time you are eating steak or other beef products enjoy yourself knowing you are nourishing your body with important nutrients.

C-O-N-F-I-D-ENCE

A favorite movie of mine is Clambake, starring Elvis!  If you have ever seen the movie, you would know the scene in the movie where Elvis, his best buddy and those adorable children are playing in the park.  I recently watched it again (well maybe three times) and the song from that scene got stuck in my head.   Of course, I just had to purchase it on itunes!   I believe a little boost in your self Confidence can get you a long way.  

C- Is for all those "Crazy Cows" I have had to keep from running away.  (Did I mention I have done more running than Standing my Ground?)  As I get older and stronger, I am running a little less.

O- Is for all the ''Opportuntities'' my Livestock Projects have given me.  Like becoming a Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador.  It has truly made me grow as a person, making me grateful for the life I have.  Being raised on a farm is a true blessing.

N- Is for those "Nail Biting Moments" in my life.  Like Being so nervous before a 10 minute speech, that you have to give to a group of people or your sibling is going into the show ring and you just feel like throwing up, because you are so anxious about what could happen in the ring.  After all, they are holding a thousand pound or more steer in their hands.

F- Is for the "Farm" I have been blessed to live on.  That I am ashamed to say until recently, I have taken for granted.

I- Is for the ''Independence'' my livestock projects have provided.  I have learned the hard way; daddy can't always be there.  From feeding the cows, shooting a rattle snake, or treating a sick animal you have to learn to do it on your own. 

D- Is for the "Disasters" that happen in and out of the show ring that make you stronger.  You must learn to take the good with the bad, learn from the situation and move forward. 

ENCE- stands for Patience, which I continue to struggle with.  I can say I am improving, it is just so hard when you have so much to do around here and my siblings don't want to do it my way!

In the beginning of Summer 2012 I set some personal goals.  I can gladly say I have achieved most of them.   My number 1 goal of the summer was to go to State Round-up and walk the stage for 2 of the 3 Competitions I competed in.   I did!  Every evening, I put on glitter spray.  I can PROUDLY say I sparkled on stage for placing 3rd place in the Fashion Show and 3rd place with my Educational Presentation!

My second goal was to get out of my shell and make new friends.  This is one goal I am still working on, but I can say I have somewhat gotten rid of my shell.  I still get nervous and often try to be invisible but I am striving to be a more outgoing person.

My final goal was to get out of the state of Texas.  (I am terrified by the outside world) Just kidding!  To accomplish this goal I attended a camp in New Mexico.  My favorite parts were being with my friends and seeing the beautiful sunrises.  I guess you can say the trip was a success, but I can definitely say if it wasn't for Mandy and Andy I would have totally had a mental break down on the ropes course!  I am totally terrified of heights.  I can't wait for next year, but I have a feeling I will only do the bottom part of ropes course again.  Conquering the whole ropes course will be on my goals list for 2013!!!  We shall see!

With a C-O-N-F-I-D-ENCE put'em all together and what to you got Confidence!  You'll be surprised what you can do if you only try!  Life is full of ways to build your Confidence and I hope you have noticed mine has soared in the past few months thanks to my projects and experiences through 4-H!

Life Lessons I have learned:

Saying No to a challenge, Gets you nowhere.  Always be open to Challenging yourself.
Encouragement!  It gets you through life and death situations.
Push yourself!
There's no job too immense when you've got CONFIDENCE!

Today I Faced Two Of My Fears

The morning began with my ritual of waking my siblings up, so that we can get started on our daily chores at the barn.  I was dreading this paticular trip to the barn, due to the undwanted creature that got away last night.  When we finally got to the barn, I did my traditional walk through checking steers making sure they had water and most importantly and cautiously looking for that unwanted creature.

The first 4 pens were good, what a relief . When I got to the last steer pen there he lay "Sleeping In the Sun". One HUGE, 3 foot rattlesnake.  My first thought was "What am I going to do?".  Panic set in immediately.   I called my dad still panicking which included tears and shaking in my boots! When He finally answered, Guess what he told me?! Well, Go home and get the shotgun.  I could not believe he expected me, the kid that is deathly afraid to shoot a gun to go get the gun and shoot the SNAKE!

By the time I got home, I was in complete hysteria, more tears and the shaking would not stop.  My mom met me on the steps in her nightgown handing me the gun.  She had no sympathy at all!  She was like "I am not going to shoot the gun!"  At that moment it hit me, our steers need me to shoot the snake!  I had to suck it up! I can do this!

So my mom and I go to the barn, I catch the steer,  I load the gun and I  fire a shot right over the snake. He doesn't move.  I missed!  So I unload the gun and slowly walk closer to take the second shot. BOOM! I missed again.  I go to take the third shot and what? I have used all my ammo. Turns out when I unloaded the gun, I didn't need to! LOL It was a semi automatic.  Shows you how much I know about this gun, not enough to be using it today!

I reload the unloaded bullet, and I prepare and slowly move toward the snake for my last and final shot.  Mind you by this point, my shoulder is killing me.  I line up the shot take a deep breath and pull the trigger. I barely hit the top of his head. -_- But Kynzie declares him dead.  My siblings and mom decide it is time to cut his head off.  Well, 1,000  hits later the head is still barley hanging on.
My moms says that my steer killed the snake before I got to the barn that morning.  My story is that I killed that HUGE 3 foot rattlesnake on the third shot and I am sticking to it!

The Life Lessons Learned:
I can do anything I put my mind to, even when it includes one of my biggest fears!
Guns are really not that bad!  It is good to know how to use one just in case.
Panicking does not help anything, take a deep breath it is going to be OK!