Why Do It?
I spent last Sunday on the couch. I literally did nothing except watch a season of a baking competition show with my daughter.
I kept smiling and laughing at how happy I was to do absolutely nothing.
It felt wonderful.
The push to get to the Kansas Junior Livestock Show was intense. My husband planted wheat from the early morning hours to late at night. I worked, sheared a couple sheep, and after picking up my daughter from school, left her to shear one.
Two ended up staying home because we ran out of time.
I was up at 3:30 AM on Friday morning to get us going. We left in the dark and rushed to get checked in at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.
She didn’t come away with any big wins and we have been showing for several years now.
Some people may ask why do it then?
Well she has learned at every show. She has grown. She is trememndously further than when we started.
Her love and care of sheep has given her a strong work ethic, a love of animals, and a bit more self confidence.
What about you?
Is there something you or your child is working on and you don’t see the progress?
It is hard sometimes but every time you step in the ring, step up to the plate, take a chance, you are one step further to that goal.
But what is the goal? For some it is to be the champion, the best. For others it is to finish.
For me it is to continue to see progress, to gain skills, build more family memories, and to continue to move upward.
Our goals have gone from not last, to try to get to the middle of the pack, to try to get into the showmanship finals.
When watching the baking competition series, the contestant that missed the final three was discouraged. But my daughter chimed in and said, “Mom, she made the top four!”
I smiled.
How we view our successes and failures shapes how we grow.
I am sure I have shared this story before but it is worth repeating.
I will never forget her first show where she placed dead last every class.
The last class of the day. after someone helped us clean up the poor shearing job I had done on her sheep, the judge asked her if she was having fun. She said yes.
Who we are is shaped by how we act when we are not winning. Do I want her to win? Yes, very much.
But would I trade all the lessons and character building that has come from losing? Honestly, no.
Who are you when the chips are down? Do we still say that?
Are you grabbing the lessons offered? Striving for more is awesome and I hope you win it all someday. But if you walk in and win, did you gain anything?
I saw a video where a young girl was selling her lamb at the county auction and donating all the proceeds to her best friend who has congenital muscular distrophy. She raised $36,000. to help her get a standup wheelchair. I have no idea if she was the grand champion at her fair. But to me she is a grand champion.
This is National 4-H week. While the goals, lessons, and attitudes can be applied to sports, work, relationships, I want to take a moment to say that 4-H has worked for our family. 4-H has been about working with groups of people we don’t always see eye to eye with. Working through situations, learning how to sew, cook, show an animal, draw, paint, shoot targets, and more..
4-H isn’t just about animals. Like everything, you get out what you put into it.
If you are interested in 4-H ask a 4-Her, come to Project Fair on October 13. (Details on page 10.)
So what goal are you headed towards?
Have you stopped to think about the steps you have already taken? How the setbacks shaped you?
From the poem Ithaka by Constantine P. Cavafy -
“As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery...
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years”
OPINIONS
Day of Action of Thanks
I am sure I just finished typing my last column a few minutes ago. Thanksgiving is in two days and I know November just started. It’s that time of the year when days fly by, my checklist gets longer, and I am not prepared for anything! We are supposed to go to Cheyenne,... [More]
A Bitter Pill
I swallowed a hard pill last weekend when my daughter and I took a self defense class. We raise our kids to be better than we were, or at least I hope that is the goal, it is mine. In the class we were taught to listen to our gut, our instincts. ... [More]
Someone Needs Your Help
I read a quote by Jack Welch that said, “When you were made a leader you weren’t given a crown, you were given the responsibility to bring out the best in others.” Have you ever had one of those days? You are walking along filled with gratitude... [More]
The World Has Never Been Safe
It’s November! Cool weather, leaves changing color, seasons changing. How are you doing? I am making decisions about Thanksgiving printing for the paper. It looks like a long weekend beforehand and I will print on Monday morning of that week, publishing Tuesday. ... [More]
A Time to Laugh
My view today, Wednesday, is beautiful - cool, leaves changing color, mums and pumpkins in my front yard. I am not quite ready for single digit temperatures except perhaps it will kill the flies! Just for fun we bought two skeletons that play instruments. They... [More]
Are You Thirsty?
How much water do you drink? Whatever is in my coffee cup. When I was told I needed to drink more water, I mentioned I’m not thirsty…Ever. Someone shared with me that people who are dehydrated don’t feel thirst. As I started drinking... [More]
He Makes A Way Where There Is No Way
Someone confided in me last week that their life lately had been a rollercoaster of emotions. I mentioned that is where faith comes in. This world is a master at filling you with fear. If you ride the rollercoaster, it will take away everything from you.... [More]
You Matter
At the funeral of a friend’s father this week, the priest said something that has stuck with me. So often at funerals I think the focus is on the glory of Heaven and what joy there is. But it is rare we stop and discuss the emptiness that is left behind. During his... [More]
More Opinions
- Please or Thank you
- Helping Others
- Lay Down or Get Up and Fight
- Keep Moving
- Remember Who You Are
- Make Good Choices
- Suffering
- Behind The Scenes
SPORTS
STATE GOLF RESULTS
State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams. On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]
JH BASKETBALL WINS
Junior High Boys Basketball A, B, and C teams travelled to Elkhart on Monday, November 21. The A team won 41-34, B team won 26-21, and C team lost to Elkhart 13-20. Head Coach Vance Keller said, “Elkhart was a tough win for both the A and B teams but both grinded... [More]
LADY BULLDOGS BORDER WARS CHAMPIONS!!
The Lady Bulldogs were undefeated during the Border Wars, defeating Eads on Friday, 42-7 and Walsh on Saturday 62-5, bringing their record to 3-1. But the winner wasn’t announced until Tuesday evening. Syracuse Athletic Director Josh Johnson explained, “It came down... [More]
JH Basketball Season Underway with JH Boys sweeping Lakin
Monday night at home at the Herndon Gym, the Junior High boys swept Lakin! Head coach Vance Keller said, “We’re a young team with only six eighth graders and 12 seventh graders. We’ve had six total that started the season with injuries so we haven’t had... [More]
Senior Night Volleyball
Three Syracuse High School volleyball seniors were honored on Tuesday, October 5, during the volleyball tournament at Syracuse. Kaetlin Thomeczek, daughter of Joe and Dami Thomeczek has played volleyball since the third grade, playing with Syracuse Youth Activities Association... [More]
HS Track
Head coach Steve Navarro said, “The coaching staff has really enjoyed working with this group of kids this year. They have been putting in hard work despite some less than stellar conditions for practice and meets. We are excited to see what they can do now that we are... [More]
SHS SPORTS WRAP UP
Baseball: The Bulldogs faced the Goodland Cowboys at home on Thursday, April 8, losing game one, 2-22 and game two, 1-17. Head Coach Dustin Doze said the Bulldogs really struggled throwing strikes again and they had too many errors. We need to clean things up if we want to... [More]
Spring Sports Start
One year ago, athletes and coaches were beginning practice for their spring sport, some practicing during spring break, others enjoying the break from school. Soon they found out their break was extended a week, some with great joy, others with apprehension. Then came the unfortunate... [More]
More Sports
NEWS
A is for Agriculture
Hamilton County is known for its agriculture. Farmers, ranchers, dairies, feedyards. We raise animals; 4-H and FFA programs help give youth a better understanding, but not all students have access to these rural resources. The Kindergarten classes from Syracuse Elementary... [More]
Celebrating Veterans
“When I raised my right hand at the Air Force Academy, I was 17 years old, like many of the gentlemen in the front row.” Every year Veteran’s Day celebrations at the McCoy Auditorium get better and better. This year, Syracuse School’s Veterans... [More]
LOCAL FFA ATTENDS NATIONAL CONVENTION
The 96th annual National FFA Convention was held last week and from as far as anyone can recall, this was Syracuse’s first time to attend. FFA alumni from 1959 recall going on to the state convention at Kansas State University, but never the national one. Larry... [More]
LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS
Boarders Inn & Suites photo - Pictured from Top Left to Right - Francisco Orta, Albani Dowell, Areia Bustillos, Saraya Lewis, Shauna Valentine, Mayra Orta, Maria Orta, Judy Nielsen
Bottom - Left to Right Brandon Herrera, Yadira Portillo, Ximena Portillo, Alexis Worsley Not pictured - Rebekah Seal, Erica Salgado/photos by Michele Boy
Wheatland Electric photo - Shajia Donecker, social media specialist; Alli Conine, director of member services & corporate communications; Nicole Semenko, payroll specialist; Bruce W. Mueller, general manager; Rick Klaus, director of operations; and Kyle Strickert, manager of substations and metering, accept the 2023 Apprenticeship Champions and Partners Award from Lt. Governor David Toland (center) at the Kansas Business Awards on Oct. 12, 2023, in Wichita.
Dream First Bank photo - Pictured L to R - Roxanne Emmerich, Chair and Founder of The Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ï¸ and Dream First Bank President and CEO Chris Floyd at the Banky Awards Event
The Kansas Cold Weather Rule Takes Effect November 1
The Kansas Cold Weather Rule takes effect November 1 TOPEKA – The Cold Weather Rule, designed to help Kansans who are behind on their utility payments avoid disconnection during the winter months, will begin on Wednesday, November 1 and remain in effect through March... [More]
LARKIN FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF SYRACUSE ROTARY CHAPTER
The Syracuse Rotary club was chartered in 1928 when the Rotary Club of Garden City sponsored Syracuse’s membership. Ninety-five years later, Megan Larkin has become the first woman President of Syracuse Rotary. Larkin has been a loan processor at Valley State Bank... [More]
WHARTONS RECEIVE BEEF SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
The definition of sustainability is the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level, “the sustainability of economic growth” and the avoidance of depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance, “the pursuit of global environmental sustainability”. ... [More]
Stop Trafficking
We have all done it. You let your kid use your cellphone while you wait in line at the store, or doctor’s office. You know who else does it? Over 500,000 predators, perverts, and pimps. Some of them are eighth graders luring your child and others. And if your child... [More]
More News
OBITUARIES
Everett “Butch” Buchanan
Everett “Butch” Buchanan A mass of Christian burial for longtime Granada, Colorado resident, Everett Buchanan, affectionately known to his family and friends as Butch will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, November 29, 2023... [More]
Larry Gene Holdren
Larry Gene Holdren was born November 16, 1971, in Syracuse, Kansas to Charles Richard and Beverly Jean (Potter) Holdren. He passed from this life on November 24, 2023, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado after suffering an aortic tear. He leaves behind many family and friends who... [More]
Martina Pena
A Mass of Christian burial for longtime Granada resident, Martina Pena was held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at the St. Francis de Sales/Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Lamar with Reverend Kenny Joe Parlingayan’s.s.s.... [More]
Richard Marquez
A mass of Christian burial for lifelong Granada resident, Richard Marquez will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church in Holly, Colorado. A rosary service will be held prior to the mass at 10:30AM with Deacon Allan Medina... [More]
Dorothy Jean (Bules) Leslie Reed
Dorothy Jean (Bules) Leslie Reed, 95, passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at the Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, Kansas. She was born November 25, 1927 in Gentry, Arkansas the daughter of Grover Bules & Devona (Huser) Bules. Dorothy began her life in Gentry, and... [More]
María Salgado
Mass of Christian Burial for Maria Salgado will be held at 10:00 a.m. and Recitation of the Rosary at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023 at St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church in Holly, Colorado. Interment will take place following the Massin the Holly Cemetery. Visitation... [More]
Evelyn Youngers
Garfield - Evelyn T. Youngers, 93, passed away Saturday, November 4, 2023 at home. She was born June 9, 1930 in Ost, Kansas, the daughter of Frank and Helen (Schauf) Marx. She was a supportive farmer’s wife and a loving mother of twelve children. On May 18,... [More]
Chad Allen Myers
Chad Allen Myers, 51, Spring Hill, Kansas passed away Saturday, October 28, 2023. Visitation will be 3:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 6, 2023 with a Celebration Of Life at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 7, 2023 both at Spring HillUnited Methodist Church, 112 E. Nichols Street,... [More]
More Obituaries
- Letha (Reavis) Kraft
- Loyal Bland
- Alan Ray Chamberlain
- Roy Edward Bullock
- Harold Wayne Kane
- Kamryn Marie McFarland
- James G. Brucker
- Timothy J. "Tim" Haslett
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