by Donna M. Cecil
Although our Summit County Fair has been put to bed for another year, there are still
some counties yet to welcome their 2024 fairs. If you actually took the time to walk the
aisles of the 4-H livestock barns and then took more time to “think about” what these
kids are gaining from their connection with their animals, you might have come to the
same conclusion as addressed in this post:
I may not have been in 4-H but I do consider myself extremely lucky to be a fourth
generation farmer in/from a family that encouraged the want, love, care and
responsibility of animals. Our mother would welcome everything from the traditional
birds, cats and dogs to chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, hogs, sheep, cows and
especially ponies and horses. She worked right next to us to model and teach just what
a major commitment and responsibility it was to own animals. In fact, I have many
memories of sick or injured animals (of all sizes and shapes – domestic and wild) being
cared for in our kitchen. I could tell you endless stories of all the animals that called the
farm their home, both temporarily and permanently; the blind pony that lived here for
decades, the orphan lamb that we bottle fed, the premature piglets warmed in our oven,
the stray cat that’s water broke in the car on the way to be dropped at the farm and
delivered it’s kitten 15 minutes later on our back porch, the mallard duck that was hit by
a car or the pheasant that’s legs were cut off by the sickle bar – both healed in the
kitchen and wintered in the chicken house until spring when they flew out of the chicken
yard to join their own. All that being said, is it any wonder that I inherited the “animal
lover” gene? However, I can honestly say that my commitment actually “Came With the
Horse” …
It came with chores.
Chores every morning and night.
It came with stubbornness and attitude that challenged little minds to grow and think on
the fly.
It came with hair to be brushed, a tail to be braided and hooves to be picked out.
It came with responsibility to practice.
Practice daily. Practice weekly. JUST Practice.
IT CAME AS A TEACHER.
Teaching daily responsibly.
Teaching persistence.
Teaching courage.
Teaching trust is earned.
Teaching strength and respect of personal space.
Teaching love.
Teaching friendship.
Teaching happiness.
Growing Up came with the horse.
(Author unknown)