Hall Of Fame

We happily attended Mike’s induction ceremony into his High School’s Hall Of Fame Today.

Each inductee was introduced by someone that knew them well and touted their accomplishments.  Then the inductees offered a few remarks.  

We are very proud of Mike and his wrestling achievements, culminating in winning the State Championship his senior year.

Mike showed us the trophy hall.

And I know his mother is very proud.

Afterwards, we were all treated to a nice lunch.  Sadie and Allie had fun playing with their cousin.

They even had a game of Candy Land.

It was a very memorable day.  Congratulations Mike!

 

This Week's Wreck

J is a checker.  He spends a lot of time with the cattle just checking.  But it can really pay off.  He can pick out one that is just starting to feel bad and treat it sooner.  And sometimes he can find problems before they are catastrophes.  

 Who would think a couple of trees could be a problem.  But when J was driving through the field to check the cattle he found this...

 Yes, that calf is stuck between two trees.  J had already tried pushing it out on his own before he came back to the house to get his chainsaw.  He said he needed me to help but I think it was just to get some pictures. 

 The poor thing had already rubbed a sore on his hip. 

 So with chainsaw in hand, J went to work.

 The two trees were sort of connected higher up so it didn't fall.  J just cut a wedge out and we pushed it over far enough for the calf to escape. 

He wobbled off, got a big drink of water and found his mom.  J said he would have felt crushed if he had found the calf dead there.  Glad he checked.

Trophies

When I was growing up my father hauled me and my horse to lots of shows.  

 I was fortunate to win lots of trophies.

 They were all very special to me in my youth.  But ever since my mother made me remove them from her house, they have been living in a box in the closet.

So I have decided to share them.  I am donating 20 to our local saddle club for their 2 shows this year.  I plan on them going to the youth classes. 

I am keeping a few that are very special to me like my championship trophies. 

 And I have the keep these, they were my first two trophies.  They receive quite a bit of polishing.  I was 10 years old and it was a very small local fair but I couldn't have been more proud.  I had always suspected since they didn't match, that they had been donated.

 I hope this lot all get new life in another horse lovers heart.

E's High School Graduation

We have had a lot of graduating going on around here.  E had an award ceremony last week along with her graduation from Governor's School and her regular graduation Friday.

 She received from Governor's School the
                           -Anatomy and Physiology Academic Achievement Award
                           -ALEKS Course Completion Award
                           -Governor's Recognition for completion of the Early College Scholars Program
                           -$500 Quadrant EPP USA, Inc. Scholarship.
From her regular school she got the
                           -Valedictorian of the Class of 2015
                           -Outstanding Performance in Accelerated Government
                           -Certificate for All Around MACC Team and Social Studies MACC Team
                           -$1000 VFW Post 4667 Scholarship
                           -$1000 Cliff Dicker Memorial Scholarship
                           -$200 History Award
                 and last but not least
                           -Certificate for Exceptional Attendance  (not really sure how she got that one, she missed a lot of school for horse judging and showing)

 As Valedictorian she had to give a speech which she tormented over for 2 months, finally finishing it the morning of graduation.

I thought she did and excellent job.

Thanks to all our family and friends that helped us celebrate 2 graduations in the last 7 days!

And what's a blog post without a horse picture.  She also won the AQHA Farm & Ranch Heritage Scholarship .  And $250 from the Arabian Horse Association for High Team at their youth judging contest last fall.
Yay, the horses are finally paying off. (or maybe breaking even, or just not losing as much)  I guess I'm done bragging for not but I'm just so proud of my girls.

Va Tech Graduation 2015

We joined throngs of other proud parents and families at the Virginia Tech campus Saturday for a very special graduation. 

Our daughter V finished up in just 3 years with a degree in Agriculture and Applied Economics.

 It was a beautiful day but a little stuffy in the unairconditioned Cassell Coliseum.

 There was a little bit of frivolity before the seriousness of the ceremony.  

 Over 700 students graduated from the college of Agriculture.

 V made her way across the stage and was awarded her diploma over our whoops and yells.  Then off to grandma's house for a cookout and fellowship with family.

 Of course there was the obligatory picture taking.  The R's all obliged when we caught them on the way to their car.

 And V posed nicely for her pictures.  The blue sash is for the Block and Bridle club and the cord is for the Ag Econ club.

 But the P's were all scattered about and we were unable to round up everyone for a picture.  But Grandma posed with V,

 as did Aunt C.

 T and

 L wouldn't leave the porch.

 But Boyfriend Mike was happy to stand by V.

As were 2 very proud parents.  V starts her new job at an Ag lending bank on June first. Welcome to the real world.

Christmas/Awards Party

Our Saddle Club Christmas party and first time awards dinner was Saturday.  The club had decided to have high point awards for 15 classes combined over three shows.  It made for a lot of work but I think it turned out pretty good. 

The awards were great.  Since we are club members we sort of got to pick out what we wanted to order for ourselves.

 E was High Point Showmanship, Western Go As You Please, and High Point Overall Horse.  She chose to take her award as cash for a college scholarship.   I rode J's horse Brother to High Point in Jr. Horse Go As You Please and Open Western Pleasure.

 I decided to combine the money from the 2 classes for one prize, this beautiful saddle pad.  It's a very heavy high quality pad and blanket combo.

 And the corner patches have one class on one side,

and the other on the opposite side.  How great is that!  I think I'll have to wait until spring to use it though.  It's way too nice to put on an old dirty horse.  The weather will have to warm up so I can give one a bath before I try it out.

Final Results

E was in her last 4-H Horse Judging Contest Saturday in Louisville, KY at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup.  There were 21 teams from all over the country competing. 

 E's team placed 2nd in Performance, 3rd in Reasons and 3rd Overall.  She blew the Morgan classes so no individual placings at this contest.  Her highest was 24th in Halter. The big ribbons are from Arabian Nationals 2 weeks ago, the smaller ones from Eastern Nationals.

 This was the belt buckle she got for High Team at Arabian Nationals,

and this was the horse blanked she won.  Now I just need to talk her into doing Collegiate Horse Judging.  She says no right now but I've got a couple of years to work on her.

Arabian National's Results

E left for Tulsa Tuesday and made it back home safely Sunday.  She had a very successful and memorable trip.

The Princesses

Just look at all of the ribbons these talented girls won.

The team was High Team Overall.  They brought home some very nice Montana Silversmith trophy belt buckles.

They were also high team in performance, second in reasons and second in halter.  E was 9th over all, 9th in performance, and 8th in reasons.  She won some cool prizes that she promised I could take her picture with later but I know some of you were anxious for the results.  More to follow.

More Awards

E's High School awards were last week and  the Governor's School awards banquet last night. 

She brought home; Highest Average in Advanced US History, Participation in All Around MACC, Participation in VHSL Scholastic Bowl, and Participation in Social Studies MACC from regular school and Award of Special Merit in College Algebra/Precalculus with Trigonometry from Governor's School.
Way to go E.  Only one more year of high school left.

Congratulations

A couple of weeks ago we got an invitation to an awards banquet for the College of  Agriculture & Applied Economics stating that V had won a scholarship.  YAY!  is what I have to say about that.   There were several departmental scholarships and V didn't know which one she had been awarded.  

Apparently, there was lots of money to give out at the banquet, $80,000 worth of scholarships.  V was chosen as the recipient of the Wayne Purcell/David Kenyon Marketing & Price Risk Management Scholarship to the tune of $800.   V was double majoring in Animal Science but found out she could finish a year earlier if she just minored in Animal Science.  Last year, at the Animal Science awards banquet I knew at least half of the people there.  This year in Ag Econ, I knew no one except for the ones I came with.  Congratulations V, and keep up the good work.