My name is Amanda, and I am a proud Plant Science kid. I majored in arboriculture in high school, I am majoring in General Horticulture for college, I work in a wholesale nursery, and I plan on running my own greenhouse crop production facility some day. What business do I have playing with dairy cattle all day?!
Well that is exactly what I did with this fine Thursday. I was one of the two State Officers at the Dairy Judging and Showmanship CDE. Now I had a brief experience with cows my freshman year of high school where we were required to take an introductory course in all possible majors (Animal, Plant, and Environmental). Aside from that, however, I do not spend much time around any sort of animal. Well... besides my dog, Noah. This year though I had my first real experience with livestock at the Livestock Judging CDE. It was the first CDE I went to as a State Officer, and I quickly got put in to the pig pen to keep them moving so the students could see them. I did the same with goats, sheep, and yes... cows! I am scared of cows. Let's just get that right out of the way. I am scared of cows and horses and pretty much MOST animals. Sorry! But I digress... back to TODAY!
Today I spent my day pretty much just keeping time and watching all the competitors do their thing. Not having to handle any of the cows, but walking around in their pies and getting nice and smelly. This lead me to two realizations: the smell of cows brings me some kind of strange joy, and I want to learn how to show an animal.
So let's talk about the smell. Yes, they stink. They totally stink. And I went home stinking to high Heaven myself. I sort of forgot and wore my jacket to dinner this evening, and it was enough to make my friends a little grossed out. But I have to admit, that smell brought me some kind of wierd sense of pride. I felt like, "I worked today. I worked hard and got dirty doing it." I felt that same pride this past summer on my lunch breaks. I used to go to Wendy's in my gross work clothes covered in mud from working in the nursery yard. While in line I got all kinds of dirty looks from nicely dressed, great-smelling men and women who have fancy jobs that require them to stay clean. NO THANKS! I loved the fact that I was covered in dirt, sweat, and Lord knows what plant matter. I really had to work hard and build up that grime! And that is how I feel when I come home smelling like animals. I felt that way back in high school, and that same sense of pride was triggered again today. I'm sorry if I'm not looking very classy, and trust me I appreciate wearing nice clothes and going to fancy events... but bless your heart if you think I'll be working any sort of coushy job where I don't get to play in the mud!
And now on to wanting to show an animal. Well, not too much to explain here. It's a recent discovery. I don't care too much what animal. I suppose something kind of small since I am so tiny and don't want to feel like I'm in danger, but honestly it doesn't matter much. Watching the members show the Jerseys today... I'm not sure. It set something off in my mind. They all seamed to be VERY proud of what they were doing. Also, I love personal experiences. Opportunities to be the best I can be all on my own, not relying on a team to pick up my slack. That is why I loved Cross Country running. It was just me. It's a rush, and I really want to get in to it. If anyone who reads this has any suggestions for me about doing this, PLEASE do not hesitate to give me some input.
If this seams all disjointed and confusing and not very well written, I apologize. I was up at 7:15 and it is now 11:45 and this is the first time today I have actually sat down to stop and rest.
Until next we meet,
Respectfully,
me
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