The Ohio Beef Expo...2019 Edition

3/17/2019

We just came home from our seventh year at the Ohio Beef Expo.

I can't believe it has been seven years already.

As always, the week is packed full and always fun.

Daniel arrived at the fairgrounds early Wednesday morning to post stall assignments and move in all our equipment.

I was at work and Isaac and Walker were getting in one final day of school, so Daniel was on his own for all the heavy lifting.

We were all at the Expo on Thursday and spent the day shopping the trade show, getting the cattle checked-in and finishing up paper work.

Friday morning both Isaac and Walker competed in the judging contest. Since they go to a private school in the city, they don't have many of the FFA, sports and farm related opportunities that many of their friends have. The boys didn't really want to do the judging contest, but we always encourage them to participate in these opportunities whenever they get a chance.

The awards ceremony was Friday afternoon, but we didn't go. We were busy with other things and we knew they probably wouldn't do that well, so why sit through it?

Well...we found out the next day that Walker place 5th overall out of 189 kids in the junior division.

Isaac placed 23rd out of 365 senior participants. Isaac also joined forces with a few of his friends and entered as a team. Their team finished in 13th out of 91.

Not bad for winging it and just having fun!

Saturday morning came bright and early. Our alarm went off at 2:45 a.m. and by 4:30 a.m. the boys were washing cows.

By 5:30 the food arrived...Buckeye Donuts and juice.

Nick stepped in to fit Angel and Romance and make sure the boys got to the ring on time.

Angel and Romance were born a day apart, so they are always in the same class.

Angel won the class and Romance placed second.

Angel then went on to win her division.

It was time for the final drive.

Rolling Hills Cattle Co. from Iowa won Grand Champion Female and Isaac and Angel won Reserve Grand Champion Female.

Next up was the Pair of Females class.

For a pair of females, the judge is looking for a matched set.

Romance and Angel were born a day apart, are from the same sire, and though each are different...there are a lot of similarities.

And the judge agreed.

He named them Champion Pair of Females.

Sunday was the junior show for the BEST.

Our final show of the season.

Isaac and Walker had already secured the champion and reserve position in points for the season, but this show also included the Best of the Buckeye.

Angel won Champion Miniature for the Expo BEST show and was also name the Best of the Buckeye Champion for the miniature breeds

Romance won Reserve Champion Miniature for the Expo BEST show and was named the Reserve Best of the Buckeye Champion.

The only thing left was the final drive.

It was Sunday afternoon...

We were all exhausted...

It had started to snow...

We still had to finish loading the trailer...

He just wanted to go home.

But...the final drive is an honor...especially at Expo. The climax and end to a hard fought season. It is where everyone wants to be.

This final drive was rough...probably the roughest one we have had.

We know we won't get picked in the top 10...

But we keep fighting.

The cow behind him was not cooperating and it was one of those shows you just wanted to be over.

And then it was over.

It started to sink in that we won't see some of these show friends for several months. We talked about what shows will be next and when we might meet up again.

We said our goodbyes.

Another season done.

It was a good week. A hard and tiring week, but we are always thankful for our successes.

We met a lot of new people and learned new things....

And we are always reminded of how far we have come, how much we still have to learn, and acknowledge how much we depend on the wisdom, knowledge and help of others.

This is Us - our life, our story, our farm