G.O.A.T.
Life produces its fair share of heroes, legends, MVPs, and all-stars.
There are lots of endearing terms that we use to describe these people in our lives that have made an impact on us forever, but my favorite term is “The G.O.A.T”. During these last four months, my list of people I consider “The G.O.A.T”, or the greatest of all time, has grown great lengths. Some argue that there can only be one G.O.A.T in each respective category of life. I believe there are too many legendary people and moments in each of our lives for there to only be one. What qualifies someone to be “The G.O.A.T” lies inside of their heart and the content of their character. As we wrap up the Kansas State Fair, I’m reminiscing of some awesome moments during my team and I’s week at the fair. Before the fair started, we received a schedule and an assignment for a certain breed stock show that we would be assisting with throughout the weekend. The goat show and the Special Olympics show, cool, I can do that! Never showing or raising livestock growing up, I was a nervous wreck, but I was particularly excited for the Special Olympics show. Although I didn’t grow up around livestock, my mom, the greatest of all time, assists in caring for children with intellectual disabilities and encouraged me to be a Unified Partner through the Special Olympics program in high school. These athletes quickly became something so special to me, as they were for my mom. Walking into the Special Olympics show, I saw a familiar face: My buddy Charlie from my hometown of Girard, being coached by Kansas FFA member Anna, preparing to show her goat for the second year in a row!
Knowing Charlie and his family since I was young, I was so excited to see him do something that I knew nothing about and learn a thing or two from him before I worked the goat show the next morning! The pleasant surprise of seeing a familiar face in a foreign place, and watching them do something that makes them happy, is a greatest of all time moment in my book.
Although I didn’t know what to expect for my first ever goat show, I had another G.O.A.T right by my side to help me through the journey, Kansas FFA Foundation Director Beth Gaines. The second day of the show happened to land right on my 20th birthday. Although I was excited to spend my birthday serving Kansas FFA, I realized that this was the first birthday that I wasn’t spending with my parents. Ringside, I was reminiscing on every homemade birthday cake and every party and realized that I’m really growing up, but I am so grateful for two decades of being surrounded by the greatest people of all time and finding my purpose. After the fourth class of market goats were finished, I hear a ‘PPSSSSST’ coming from the announcer’s stand. I walk back towards the stand to see Beth holding a stuffed goat wearing a blue corduroy jacket, with the letters G-O-A-T embroidered on the front. “A goat for the G.O.A.T”. We celebrated a successful show day with cupcakes and sitting in lawn chairs on the wood chips, Dr. Pepper in hand. I was incredibly grateful for this special moment and the company that I was sharing it with.
The strength of the livestock show culture was something that I was not prepared for. Hundreds of young people, parents and animals by their side, lined up to register for a shot at a ribbon, a banner or even a buckle. However, it wasn’t the material reward that any of these showmen and women were chasing. They were after the smile, the finger-point of the judge, the handshake, the cheers and the pride of their families all sitting snug in the bleachers. I finally understood the family and the fellowship that the livestock show creates. It was a privilege to see members and friends that I knew, and to meet some I didn’t know, become immersed in the competition the second they stepped into the ring. Thank you for teaching this non-traditional agriculturist the traditions of the show and the intensity that it brings! Among good company, lots of learning opportunities, and rockstar members and educators, the Kansas State Fair and my 20th birthday were the greatest of all time!
Zoë Rhodes
State Treasurer
