How did we get here? Part 3
As the first outing quickly approached, my nerves began to spiral out of control. My number one concern was other people's perceptions. The last thing I wanted was to look like a fool.
The word about Man in the Mirror - affectionally known as "Pacer" - had gotten out. Pictures were distributed carefully and with intense calculation as he developed. So many people were waiting to catch a glimpse of this bull. I prayed to God and I gave it all to Him. It was all in His hands. The nerves started to subside and the excitement set in.
He hit the last pre-show weight goal two weeks ahead of schedule. He was finally growing some hair - which all livestock exhibitors know is hard for bulls in the summer months. His appetite was phenomenal and he was the easiest fellow to work with.
He was ready.
The first destination was the Ohio State Fair. We flew under the radar and arrived at dark. The complex was calm and quiet - perfect for unloading show newbies.
The next morning came quickly and it did not take long for people to take notice. Show day followed.
We were trying our best to not let nerves get the best of us. Between the fact that this was his first outing and David's dad was just admitted into the hospital a few days prior, we were on edge.
David was going to show him. It was a good thing too because I felt like I could pass out when we got to the ring. We walked away as the Fall Bull Calf Champion that day and it made the whole trip worth it in our eyes.
One week is all we had before we loaded up and headed to Indiana. County fair kept us busy and our minds occupied. Mark was still in the hospital, we had moved to D3 in the drought, and we were wore down.
The alarms went off at 4 am and we slowly crawled out of bed to hit the road. This was our longest haul and it was going to be a hot day.
Once we arrived, we quickly unloaded and got the cattle into the barn. The cattle were empty and sore from the rough roads. The bull never settled in like we had hoped, but we still came home with Reserve Division honors.
The next two rounds brought us home. Being back in our stomping ground of West Virginia and Kentucky helped us to relax and let loose. Mark was home from the hospital and we knocked several pressing items off our to-do list. We felt like we could breathe again.
It was show day in Lewisburg, WV. Once again, my nerves were starting to get the best of me. I finished showing the heifer and quickly found my crew.
The most superb crew ever assembled - complete with a hype man, an indifferent soul, and a critic. Mind you, these are my nieces and nephews, but I needed all of them to keep me distracted.
As the heifer show concluded and the bull show began, I tried my best to keep it all contained. David came out of division with that purple rosette for our boy.
As the judge was talking the final drive, we began to lose hope. We felt like division champion was the end of the road for us that day. To our astonishment, we watched the judge head towards Pacer and give David a handshake. We had just won the State Fair of West Virginia.