13/07/2026
We have been the lucky ones.
Our coaches have never asked our kids to choose between the barn and the game.
They've cheered them on in the show ring and on the basketball and volleyball court, football field, and wrestling mat. They've driven by our house and honked while pigs were being walked, stopped by the farm to learn what this lifestyle is all about, and wished them sincere luck before heading to a show.
These coaches have understood the sacrifices that have been made. That once practice was over, chores began. That a Friday night football game might be followed by an all-night drive to make an 8 a.m. livestock show three states away. That after making the last second shot to win a regional basketball game, they would scurry out the door to go to a livestock sale to find the next show animal, and forego the victory dinner. They knew there would be once in a lifetime national livestock events that we would opt out of because of commitments to teammates. They gave grace when two seasons overlapped and believed that both commitments mattered.
They saw something that not everyone does. They saw that livestock kids are built differently.
Livestock kids have drive.
They have passion.
They have discipline.
They have an unmatched work ethic.
Showing livestock and playing sports isn't easy. It requires sacrifice, time management, and countless early mornings and late nights. There are moments when it feels impossible. But with coaches who understand, encourage, and believe, it is possible.
Our coaches understood that while the odds of going pro were unlikely, the opportunities for a future in agriculture were probable. They recognized the value of supporting both passions.
To every coach who has supported a livestock kid: thank you for seeing the value beyond the scoreboard and believing that the lessons learned in the barn can make for better teammates, leaders, and people.
Thank you for allowing us to have the best of both worlds and understanding that showing livestock isn't just a hobby, it's our sport, our way of life, and for many of us, the future our kids are working toward.
