What were the memories that brought the "want" to show?

Showing Cattle - do you love it or hate it?

That really is the question isn't it?

There doesn't really seem to be an in between.........

So why is that?

What is the turning point really of what makes you whole hardheartedly LOOVE showing cattle and you can put aside all the things that some people would say are the reasons they would not do it?

I've seen it when judging Paraders or Junior Judging events...... now don't get me wrong, I LOVE that kids want to get involved and they have different levels of ability, we all started somewhere, there are differing levels of support from parents too etc etc - I get that - and we will always support the youth in whatever capacity we can that want to be part of this amazing industry.

What are your first or fondest memories???

Yes I remember and still aim for the ribbons and awards but what started the "want" in the beginning?

This is mine...........

I can so clearly clearly remember getting through the hustle and bustle of Brisbane.... an annual pilgrimage to the "big smoke". The anticipation and excitement in the lead up, the work, the packing, the planning and that was without the years of breeding put into the cattle!!

The navigation of unfamiliar streets that were often different to the year before and yet as we grew closer to the Ekka grounds, truly looking like the gum leaves were hanging from us, these particular "Terraces" and landmarks never seemed to really change...... and had a certain familiarity to them - I still wonder about how that could be when everything else seemed to have such amazing change around it.

It wasn't long that we would arrive and upon that arrival a feeling of relief that we'd "made it." My mind soon wandered to getting my first chance to step in that shed where everyone was starting to arrive - and then what came was next was indeed something I've pondered - just WHEN did I "Know" it's where I wanted to be ....

THE moment that sticks in my head and still has me stopping for a minute every time I return.

The moment that I entered into the sheds, stopped and took that great big soul soothing "I'm meant to be here" breath...... THAT SMELL in the sheds, right there - that is it....

That is my "thing" as it wraps up every memory, thought, activity EVERYTHING can be linked back to the memory and THAT smell.

A mix of sawdust, in grained manure into the timber walls, perhaps even a bit of old dry rot in the timber and the odd spilt bit of rum..... there is

NO . SMELL . LIKE . IT .

I can still smell it and I still crave it as I sit here penning these words to paper.

As I breathe in so deeply right now I can picture those old encompassing sheds, that bought with them the "home away from home" the "country town" within the city, the "hug" of a safety net knowing that if you stuck to the sheds you were safe in this big sky scraping metal, horn hoking metropolis where people sometimes seemed a little less patient and a little less friendly at times. BUT not at the sheds, and even if you were out at the "Jube" it didn't matter if we didn't "know" each other there is a certain alumni if you were from the cattle sheds - everyone stuck together and kept an eye out for each other. Yep the PEOPLE make up a big part of those memories attached to the "smell."

The sheds even gave a sense of feeling of an annual "coming home" ..... but this home was the annual catch up - often with people you may only see at Ekka or sporadically throughout the year at different shows depending on the "run" they did. The smells, the movement of people and gear, the happy chatter, the cattle unloading, the wheelbarrows of feed, the hugs, the handshakes, the laughter and reminiscing.... and the immediate plans to "get together" for a drink.

Then the standing back and commentary on how good each other's cattle looked, the "giving cheek" over what bets were to be placed at the bar later on who might sneak the "broad" and the "checking out" of any new stud grooms LOL - who is he? where did he come from? who does he work for? When wrangler jeans were the newest thing to hit Australia and were sold out of gear bags, when coloured jeans & coloured plaited belts were the go to for night events and shirts were in every different colour STRIPE! And my doesn't he fill out a pair of wranglers just quite nicely as we found any excuse to have to "follow" him down the shed laneways - to get more hay!! LOL

Or dare I say it the "pick up" lines of cream pants with laughing pockets - "see my new jeans - these are my elephant ears - do you want to see the trunk?!!" OMG

Soon the radios would be crackling and and everyone would be smiling, chatting, laughing and the set up began. - with the odd comment - "we must be freaking mad to do this!!!" as we passed each other again and again in the alley ways with wheelbarrow and trolleys full of gear!

But stepping back.....

There is something about my first memories of EKKA of getting dragged along when very small to attend the gathering - EVERY YEAR.

First in the cold grandstands to watch the night events, snuggled up in big coats and carrying sample bags! Then watching cattle judging, led steer judging, taking stud cattle, taking led steers, junior paraders, junior judging.....entering and winning.

The tradition, the smells, the memories, the people, that translated from the Ekka to small country shows or vice versa.

For me the small country shows were a highlight always, coming from a family that were very community minded who supported their district in whichever form they could, entering prize winning cooking, cattle, donating prizes, trucking cattle, working at working bees, working on show & campdraft days..... it was and is part of who we are.

But then enter EKKA!! - this was the show that cemented what I wanted to do - FOREVER! I took weeks off school to attend each year - even in year 12 much to my teacher's disgust.

But fortunately I was gifted a talent for academia that allowed me to follow my passion for cattle, never study and still get very good grades and entry scores for uni - for which I am very grateful for.... again much to my teacher's head shaking - and why on earth are you taking 2 weeks off and want to show cattle when you could do X,Y,Z at uni??? - We'll cover that whole culture another time!

Ekka and showing cattle have bought so many great memories with great people and yes as the year go by there have been amazing awards, great successes, all that have been made better by the people I have shared it with.

But..

Now it's not just about looking back and reminiscing but looking forward, I am soooo grateful for the opportunities that my parents gave me in being able to be part of this industry and culture around showing cattle. BUT while the opportunities were somewhat taken away from me for a number of years during my late 20's my passion and determination to get back to what truly does make my "soul sing" has brought a full circle which I couldn't be more happier about.

I still have amazing friends from all of those years ago, I may have picked myself up an amazing hubby too which I have friends and EKKA memories to thank for - pity he didn't get his act together a bit sooner is our favourite family joke ! LOL but who would have thought that those connections we all made as young teenagers would continue to now and into the future of great friends & supporters....

Showing cattle is hard work, and hardly anything we enjoy is ever free BUT the satisfaction of preparing animals and sites to look the best they can be irrespective of the judge on the day's decision is not able to be measured in value. Not to mention the other long list of benefits - but we will venture into that another day when we really talk about the "WHY" we show...

We now have the opportunity for our children or our "extended family" of children to be part of this in whatever capacity they like - learning important life lessons along the way and making lifelong friendships with many of the children whose parent's we showed cattle with - we love that there seems to be a new "buzz" at the moment in more people wanting to show cattle and we are aiming to always bring some old school fun back into it all - it's not all serious stuff you know!

Our #workhardplayhard mantra is something we love and as the next generation get their teeth into showing we are pleased to see the circle continue...

#bekind #positivevibes #weshowslicks #ourtribe