8 Rules Livestock Owners Live By | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

8 Rules Livestock Owners Live By

Growing up caring for livestock has its own set of learned rules.

27
8 Rules Livestock Owners Live By
Emily Dougherty

Growing up around livestock and stock shows is a completely different lifestyle than most kids get to have growing up. It comes with an extra set of unofficial rules and regulations that every livestock person must learn to love and live by.

1. Your needs come last.

Whether it be waking up every hour to bottle feed and change the diaper of a baby goat who's mother can't care for it or spreading straw in negative 10-degree weather, your discomfort is never as important as keeping your animals safe and comfortable at all times. It may not be fun at times, but there's absolutely nothing more amazing than hearing the life come back into a two-day old chick's peep after you spend hours drip feeding it electrolytes.

2. Shoes are made to step in sh*t.

Clothes, skin, and cars can all be washed. Getting dirty and working hard are the best memories you could ever make. Don't pass up an opportunity, just to keep clean. Sure, we all have our fancy outfits that we only wear on special occasions. But is it really going to hurt anyone if it gets a little dirty?

2. Cowboy Up.

We've all been stepped on, bruised, bit, kicked, and drug through the barn. Yeah, it hurts. You have to get over it because there’s work to do. Just last year, my pig busted my leg five hours before the show. I swelled up like a balloon and couldn't even get the boot off of my fat foot. That didn't stop me from showing my pigs that night with a huge smile on my face.

3. Bling can fix everything.

Headbands, necklaces, jeans, halters, earrings, tops, bracelets, makeup, show sticks, and boots. Everything can come with a little bit of sparkle on it. Not only do rhinestones and sequins catch the judge's eye, but also the cute beef barn guys, and you'll feel awesome about yourself! 10/10 would recommend glitter for everything.

4. Being alone isn't so lonely.

I used to work alone for a few hours a day in the barn, but it definitely didn't feel like it. I would chatter away at the horses, asking about their day and if they like their hay. Of course, they won't be able to actually answer me, but horses are the best at listening to your problems and not complaining when you suck at singing. If I had it my way, I would hang out more with livestock than I would with humans.

5. Some nice words and a snack help every foul mood.

It's the most well-known fact about animals: if they're not behaving, talk to them softly and give them some extra feed. The same goes for humans. Except alfalfa usually isn't quite going to cut it.

6. Friendships come with two and four legs.

After spending all year working with your livestock, you develop a strong bond and truly understand one another. By the end of the year, you know your animal’s body language and can have a full conversation with them, though they don’t actually speak. Despite becoming BFFs with my animals, I have gained some of my best friends through raising and showing livestock. Each member of the cattle barn has become one huge family. We support and love each other with and without livestock being involved, but definitely get a competitive edge during the final drive of the show.

7. Roll with the punches and keep on trucking.

You won't win every time. Sometimes you might even place last in the class. Sometimes your animal will act up. Sometimes you won't know the answer to the judge's question about your livestock. But every single time you step in the 4-H barn and especially the show ring, people are watching you. Whether it be your 4-H leader, your family, or a younger member that is looking for guidance. Keep your cool, keep smiling, and always say please and thank you.

8. Never get in the middle of a fight.

Pigs fight a lot. When they do, you just have to let them settle it themselves. My first year at the county fair, one of the hog barn staff told me to "get back darling, they'll rip your leg clean off." Now I know he was exaggerating a lot; but because he said that, I stayed back and didn't get hurt. I follow that same advice when there's drama going on in my friend group or family and definitely when the hogs are going at it. I still have both my legs, too!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1589
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

966
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200150
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading... Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20855
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading... Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments