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September 2006 Showpig Issue
’Tis the season to learn
by Darrell Anderson
“O God, help me to win, but in thy wisdom if thou willest me not to win, then O God, make me a good loser.”
- Sir Robert Baden-Powell, Founder of the Boy Scouts
The boy rises early in the morning; heavy dew glistens on the freshly mowed grass. He pauses as he hits the end of the sidewalk leading up to the back door of the home.
All the hard work that he has invested in his summer livestock project is about to culminate in the next few days, as he prepares to take his pigs to the fair. He can’t help but wonder – will he indeed bring home the purple ribbon again this year?
He waits nervously for his dad to finish the chores. He loves to help, but this morning he has other things on his mind. He has to make sure that his mom had his favorite show shirt washed and pressed. Did she have enough starch in his pants to last the entire show? Did he have enough feed? Did he remember all the show supplies?
How would he react when the judge named his barrow champion? Or, more importantly, how was he going to react if the judge put him in the fourth-placing pen? Had he prepared for the competition, and was he willing to accept and learn from the results of the show – regardless of the color of his ribbon?
He would soon know.
The ride to the fair was long and quiet. The young man and his dad pass by neighbors’ homes. Would they be there to see him win the show?
He was dreaming of winning when his dad broke the silence. “Have you ever given thought to the awesome responsibility a judge has when he is asked to give his opinion about your hog? Do you think there might be several of your friends traveling to the fair today with the same exact goal of winning the purple ribbon as you have?”
The young man thinks a moment.
“Well no, I really hadn’t thought that. I guess I’ve been too focused on winning,” he replies. “I’ve spent a lot of time this summer preparing my barrow, and I just want the judge to see how hard I’ve worked and reward me for it.”
This brings to the surface one real-life lesson to be learned from the fair.
How do we teach the art of winning and losing? Can all the preparation for the show be more important than what the judge has to say? Are we teaching our children to respect the integrity and intelligence of the judge? Do they realize that it’s the effort and the life skills learned – not the color of the ribbon – that is really important?
During the last 20 years at this desk, I have witnessed some outstanding role models that have made me proud of the folks in the pedigreed livestock business. They have used the swine project as a teaching tool and have helped shape the character of their kids through the lessons found at the fair.
Unfortunately, I’ve also seen a few that have made some mistakes and have compromised their integrity and their character in the heat of the moment. They have made some harsh statements about the judge and his ability or motives, and have not taught by example.
Character is defined in the gray areas of our life, and I can assure you that you are always under the microscope of your kids – even when you think you aren’t.
Back to the hog show – the judge fills the placing pens from the bottom up. He narrows the field to the top two.
The boy glances at the other barrow in the ring. “I’ve got a good chance,” he thinks. Just then, the judge asks him to put his barrow in the second pen. As the boy shuts the gate, disappointment nearly overwhelms him. From the corner of his eye, he sees his dad.
With a wink, his dad says, “Great job, son. Now, listen to the judge’s comments so we can improve for next year. Oh, and don’t forget to congratulate the winner – he deserved to win.”
The strength of our character is rooted in the depth of our convictions. How deep are your convictions in teaching your young people to accept the results of the show, even if there is momentary disappointment? Those lessons will last well after the ribbons have faded.
