He slid the button to “on” and floated the clippers over the goat’s hair. Cringing, I offered a “suggested” way of trimming. He nodded and said, “I got it, Mimi.”

Allowing our first-time 4-H’er “mistake space” was a tad more difficult than I’d imagined. We had a couple of weeks to allow for growth, so the buzzed-off areas wouldn’t look quite so bare — or at least I hoped so.

When he was satisfied with the clipping job, we tackled hooves until the loose hair inside his clothes sent him into an itchy dance. We spent pre-fair week washing, trimming, shaving and prepping chickens, sheep and goats, successfully managing project turn-in and judging times.

For months, Ezra practiced his showmanship skills, studied his livestock diagrams, learned to milk and broke animals to lead. Our sheep proved to be quite the mistake-space challenge when it came to breaking and leading.

Hands-on since the day each animal was born, Ezra was fully invested. And dirty. Every kid in a dairy show wearing white is a natural filth magnet — especially 10 minutes before they walk into the ring.

Reap the right rewards

Ezra collected some nice banners. One meant more than anything: junior showmanship champion. He was proud of what he did and had every right to be. Somewhat in an ignorant bliss through the whole thing, he was fearless before all the judges. It was rewarding to watch him take responsibility and ownership — dirt and all.

Going back and forth between goat and sheep pens, we had to walk past some stellar sheep. Flawlessly manicured, there wasn’t one wonky spot on their hides. Purple ribbons and banners waved above the pens.

The two 4-H kids, when we saw them, stood there, watching adults do all the work. The kids didn’t touch the sheep until just before entering the show ring. They weren’t involved in the pre-show prep, and didn’t water, feed, clean pens or lead the animals.

And it wasn’t as if they were too little. They were late middle school and high school age. It was easy to gather that it wasn’t so much the kids couldn’t — they weren’t allowed. It was sad.

Winning is fun. Proving the quality of your animal is rewarding. But if I am not mistaken, the whole premise of 4-H is for kids to learn about growing their heart, hands, head and health by the means of hands-on experience, not through watching adults.

Assist and guide, not take over and control. I’ve witnessed what happens when you turn over the clippers to an eager showman. That action whispers, “I believe in you.” 

McClain writes from Greenwood, Ind.