A new girl is on the farm. This girl is a heifer who recently joined the herd and will be part of our girl’s 4H journey.

Last year was the first year for our daughter to exhibit beef at the county fair. She worked faithfully with her cow and baby calf to show them as a pair. The mama cow came to us as a young heifer with the intention of our daughter starting her own small herd to raise and exhibit. The baby calf was born in the spring and went with her mama to the fair. Our daughter planned to exhibit the calf as her heifer for the fair this upcoming year.

Sadly, one day in the fall, there was a problem. My son noticed that there was a calf on it’s side in the pasture. He went to inspect the situation. He came to me privately in the house and told me he thought the calf had passed and it was his sister’s animal. We tried to keep her from the window, but I think she knew something was going on. Soon, we brought my husband to the pasture and he confirmed the calf was gone. By now, our daughter saw the activity in the pasture and asked what was wrong? Was it a calf? Was it hers? We had to tell her the truth. She cried and cried. Her daddy took her out to the pasture and they had a heartfelt conversation about life and death. We talked about how it is ok to be sad.

As the months passed, there was talk of 4H projects. Our daughter still wanted to show beef animals. She still had the desire to show a heifer as a single animal. My husband contacted a farm we have purchased from before and they were having an auction. He took our daughter to look over the stock and make some choices about desired animals. She was excited to go and to look to the future of a new calf. We were able to secure an animal for her.

She is so happy. Hope is renewed.