Fashions Change but Value of 4H Doesn’t

I’ve never been very fond of cows. I’ve spent my entire life trying to like heifers and steers but they make it so damn difficult, simply by being, well, cows. I grew up on a dairy farm surrounded by many animals, but especially cows. During my formative years I was a little fascinated by cows, especially dairy cows, because I had heard the brown ones made chocolate milk. One of my earliest memories is sitting on top of a very docile dairy cow while she was being milked, pretending to ride it (clearly I needed a pony). Another time, I begged my dad to let me milk one of our cows by hand even though we had machines to do it. After approximately 30 seconds, I realized why milking cows with machines instead of the old fashioned way became a widespread phenomenon.

My fascination with cows ended there. As I grew older and realized just how big those damn cows actually were I started to be a little afraid them. I could never quite put my finger on an actual reason, aside from the fact that they outweighed me. Around the same time, I became a member of the Leduc 4H Beef Club. My sister, five years my senior and a natural cowgirl, was already a seasoned member of the club. My dad would eventually become the leader of the club. My parents reminded me of how they had met each other – showing cows (dairy, not beef). Yes, it seemed my place in a long line of cow-liking-folks was cemented, not by an actual affection for the creatures but by destiny. However, I was determined to excel at this whole 4H thing despite lacking any actual talent for it. At my very first 4H show, I quickly realized why I had a natural instinct to avoid all things beef-like, especially heifers. I got kicked not once, but twice that day. And yes, it hurt. A lot.

But I persevered with 4H and went on to be kicked many more times. I got kicked in the most ridiculous situations. My sister told me it is impossible for a steer to kick sideways. I also discovered that my sister is a liar.

I stuck with 4H for eight years despite all the bruises for a good reason. It made me a well-rounded person. As cheesy as it might sound, 4H really does help mould young men and women into leaders. 4H clubs do more than just show animals or present projects. During my time in 4H I not only learned how to take care of an animal but also to love animals bigger than kittens and bunnies (no one has to try hard to love something as adorable as a kitten). I also learned about responsibility, commitment and hard work. However, 4H’s biggest gift to me was the mandatory public speaking. I learned how to speak loudly and clearly in front of a large audience, how to not fidget or play with my hair while speaking in public and, best of all, I learned how to improvise for an entire minute.

This week I relieved my past, if only for a little while, by stopping at the Leduc 4H Beef Club’s show at the Leduc Recreation Centre. A lot of little things have changed over the years (no uniforms!) but many things have not. The 4H kids still work really hard for many months with their animals to have them ready for the show ring. The effort put in by all 4H members does not go unrewarded in the show ring. And, as always, there was a group of dedicated parents organizing and running the show to ensure that the day ran smoothly.

I didn’t stick around for the Leduc 4H Beef Club’s sale but I know what happened. As the 4H members said goodbye to the steers they spent nine months feeding, grooming and walking they got a little emotional. Some cried. Some hid their tears bravely and tried to remember that their animal is only that – an animal. Because for most of those kids, their 4H steer has become so much more than that to them; their steer has transformed from a drooling, kicking beast of an animal into a companion, friend and family member, or, at the very least, a constant in their life. And even though every 4H kids knows that they don’t get to keep their steer forever, it’s always hard for them to believe the end has come so quickly. That part never changes.