Post by dirkgently on May 30, 2015 18:48:31 GMT -6
Today my son and I went to our first 4H Meet. Around 60 rabbits, a dozen chickens and a dozen guinea pigs along with 3 dozen participants were in attendance. We got there early, paid our registration and waited for two hours before my son's age group was up for the first stage of judging.
The first stage was the child's knowledge of the rabbit. Anatomy, physiology, diet, history of the breed, and proper handling. My son was very nervous and stumbled, but answered every question and did quite well. I was a proud papa. My son was awarded a blue ribbon and received applause.
Afterwards we broke for lunch before returning to the second stage.
This was a judge simply looking at the rabbit. It's health and well-being. After the judging, my son was awarded a red ribbon, for second place. Our Rosie is overweight. She's our pet, a member of the family, and we treat and spoil her along with our 2 cats and our pup. But she wasn't in the right weight class.
My son understood and was a little upset, but he knew the rules.
Afterwards I went to the judge to shake her hand. She looked at me and stated, "Quite frankly, Mr. Russell, I was afraid you came up here to complain."
I replied, "Ma'am, you judged fairly and appropriately. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to teach my son. Not everyone is entitled to a trophy."
To see the look on her face was priceless.
My son treasures his 2 ribbons. One red, one blue. Because he earned them. They weren't the best, they weren't the greatest, but they were honestly earned and deserved. I think that he will remember this day, and learn from it to do better next month for the big fair show. He didn't get the biggest and the best, but I have tried to teach him to learn from mistakes, to take losing and turn it into a teaching moment.
I am so proud of my son. He competed. He won some, he lost some. But he walked out of that building with his head held high and with a smile on his face.
In the distant future, I may be faulted with a myriad of mistakes.
Today wasn't one of them.
The first stage was the child's knowledge of the rabbit. Anatomy, physiology, diet, history of the breed, and proper handling. My son was very nervous and stumbled, but answered every question and did quite well. I was a proud papa. My son was awarded a blue ribbon and received applause.
Afterwards we broke for lunch before returning to the second stage.
This was a judge simply looking at the rabbit. It's health and well-being. After the judging, my son was awarded a red ribbon, for second place. Our Rosie is overweight. She's our pet, a member of the family, and we treat and spoil her along with our 2 cats and our pup. But she wasn't in the right weight class.
My son understood and was a little upset, but he knew the rules.
Afterwards I went to the judge to shake her hand. She looked at me and stated, "Quite frankly, Mr. Russell, I was afraid you came up here to complain."
I replied, "Ma'am, you judged fairly and appropriately. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to teach my son. Not everyone is entitled to a trophy."
To see the look on her face was priceless.
My son treasures his 2 ribbons. One red, one blue. Because he earned them. They weren't the best, they weren't the greatest, but they were honestly earned and deserved. I think that he will remember this day, and learn from it to do better next month for the big fair show. He didn't get the biggest and the best, but I have tried to teach him to learn from mistakes, to take losing and turn it into a teaching moment.
I am so proud of my son. He competed. He won some, he lost some. But he walked out of that building with his head held high and with a smile on his face.
In the distant future, I may be faulted with a myriad of mistakes.
Today wasn't one of them.
