While Stock Show Dads are an essential part of the Stock Show World, you cannot forget someone else who is just as important: Stock Show Moms. They carried us for 9 whole months in their wombs, gave us the gift of life, and now they get to spend their weekends in the summer sitting on uncomfortable bleachers in the blistering heat to watch their kid parade an animal around the ring for about 15 minutes. They are the bomb, however through my years of showing I have been able to classify two very different types of Stock Show Moms. While both have many different qualities and traits, they are just as much a staple of stock shows as dads are. Which classification does your mom match up with?
The Super Competitive Moms- These ladies can have a variety of titles including but not limited to the crazy mom, the psycho mom, the angry mom, the overly competitive mom, the mama bear, and the bitch. While their competitive spirit may get the best of them from time to time, their hearts are truly in the right place. They want to see their kids be as successful as they know they can possibly be. They are the moms seen leading steers around the show, coaching their kids from the sidelines, and carrying around brushes, spray bottles, conditioners, and exhibitor numbers. They probably showed when they were growing up, but regardless they know exactly what's going on in the show ring, how the animal needs to look, and how the placings should be. They know when their kids get screwed over by a judge, and you better watch out if/when that ever happens. They are basically professional photographers on the sidelines, ensuring that the angle of the camera shows the best view of the animal as possible. They aren't afraid to give some ummm very loud constructive criticism to their kids if God forbid they screw something up. They can fit a steer or shear a lamb just as good as any show jock, and aren't afraid to get dirty, smelly, or sticky on show day. However, they are dressed to impress with big hair, big jewelry, and even bigger personalities. No matter how nuts or over the top they may seem at times, they honestly love their kids and their animals and just want them both to reach their full potential.
The Super Supportive Moms-These poor women probably didn't realize what the hell they were marrying into. They are not the animal type and did not envision spending hot summer days in the dust and manure watching a pig, cattle, sheep, goat, etc. show. They aren't 100% sure what's all going on during show day and are rarely seen in the barn at home. Still, they love their kids and husband and will do whatever it takes to show up and prove they support the family hobby. Their sideline pictures usually are either blurry or show the most awkward angle of the animal every time, and back drop photos? Ya they are more focused on their kids than the animal and they sometimes accidently cut off the bottom half of the winning stock. Whether you win the show or get dead last in class, they always tell you that you did a good job. They ask about a million questions on show day that make you want to rip your hair out. Their show day outfits? Probably not what you would ever consider wearing to a livestock show. While the showing thing really isn't their idea of a good time, they are still willing to do whatever they can to help, whether it be taking very detailed lists shopping at the farm store, keeping track of records and other important documents, or making a home-cooked meal in a pig pen during fair week so their kids don't have to settle on greasy foods on a stick. They may seem out of place at times, but they will sacrifice their comfort zone to make their offspring happy.
I will admit these two classifications are on very different ends of the spectrum of Stock Show Moms, and there are those moms that sort of fall in the middle of these two types. It is hard to stereotype all the show moms with 7 qualities like dads because there are millions of different show moms in the world with millions of different qualities that make them the best! We wouldn't be here without them and hands down they will always be our biggest fans in the bleachers. Thank-you to all the stock show moms out there that help keep the stock show world running!
The Super Competitive Moms- These ladies can have a variety of titles including but not limited to the crazy mom, the psycho mom, the angry mom, the overly competitive mom, the mama bear, and the bitch. While their competitive spirit may get the best of them from time to time, their hearts are truly in the right place. They want to see their kids be as successful as they know they can possibly be. They are the moms seen leading steers around the show, coaching their kids from the sidelines, and carrying around brushes, spray bottles, conditioners, and exhibitor numbers. They probably showed when they were growing up, but regardless they know exactly what's going on in the show ring, how the animal needs to look, and how the placings should be. They know when their kids get screwed over by a judge, and you better watch out if/when that ever happens. They are basically professional photographers on the sidelines, ensuring that the angle of the camera shows the best view of the animal as possible. They aren't afraid to give some ummm very loud constructive criticism to their kids if God forbid they screw something up. They can fit a steer or shear a lamb just as good as any show jock, and aren't afraid to get dirty, smelly, or sticky on show day. However, they are dressed to impress with big hair, big jewelry, and even bigger personalities. No matter how nuts or over the top they may seem at times, they honestly love their kids and their animals and just want them both to reach their full potential.
The Super Supportive Moms-These poor women probably didn't realize what the hell they were marrying into. They are not the animal type and did not envision spending hot summer days in the dust and manure watching a pig, cattle, sheep, goat, etc. show. They aren't 100% sure what's all going on during show day and are rarely seen in the barn at home. Still, they love their kids and husband and will do whatever it takes to show up and prove they support the family hobby. Their sideline pictures usually are either blurry or show the most awkward angle of the animal every time, and back drop photos? Ya they are more focused on their kids than the animal and they sometimes accidently cut off the bottom half of the winning stock. Whether you win the show or get dead last in class, they always tell you that you did a good job. They ask about a million questions on show day that make you want to rip your hair out. Their show day outfits? Probably not what you would ever consider wearing to a livestock show. While the showing thing really isn't their idea of a good time, they are still willing to do whatever they can to help, whether it be taking very detailed lists shopping at the farm store, keeping track of records and other important documents, or making a home-cooked meal in a pig pen during fair week so their kids don't have to settle on greasy foods on a stick. They may seem out of place at times, but they will sacrifice their comfort zone to make their offspring happy.
I will admit these two classifications are on very different ends of the spectrum of Stock Show Moms, and there are those moms that sort of fall in the middle of these two types. It is hard to stereotype all the show moms with 7 qualities like dads because there are millions of different show moms in the world with millions of different qualities that make them the best! We wouldn't be here without them and hands down they will always be our biggest fans in the bleachers. Thank-you to all the stock show moms out there that help keep the stock show world running!