ESCAPE - May 2020

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people

LIVING TO

SERVE

words Stoney Stamper IMAGEs courtesy April Stamper and ccpixx photography/Shutterstock

I stand with my arm around Emma’s shoulder, holding her

Let me back up a tad. We are at the Oklahoma Youth

against me as I hear her sniffle. She’s fifteen years old, and

Expo, otherwise known as OYE to most everyone involved

this is always the hardest part of showing animals. We watch,

in FFA and 4-H. It’s the largest livestock show on the

as the two pigs that she’s worked so hard with this year,

planet. Thousands and thousands of animals, exhibitors,

walk down the aisle to “the truck.” The truck, of course,

Ag teachers, moms, dads, and families gather every year

is the truck that will carry them to the processing plant.

in Oklahoma City in hopes of making “the hill.” The show

Months of hard work, exercise, washing and conditioning,

is so large, that it requires a few “sift pens” before you

have now culminated to this moment. Just the two of us

can actually reach the main show pen, or “the hill,” as it’s

standing there, watching as they disappear onto the truck.

known. To even get in the top ten in one of these classes is

It’s sad, of course. But we are Ag folks. We understand that

quite an accomplishment. It’s the toughest show you’ll likely

this is how the world works. We donated both of these

ever go to. Countless hours of hard work, blood, sweat and

animals to the Food Bank of Oklahoma, so that their meat

tears are put into these animals. And to be realistic, most of

will go to feed children in need in Oklahoma. So, although

the kids that walk in that show ring are going to get sifted

it hurts Emma to know that these pigs won’t be going

pretty quickly. Most of them won’t make it to “the hill.” So,

home with us today, they are going to help people in need.

why do all this for just a few moments in the show ring?

Someone won’t go hungry because she chose to donate them. And that takes a bit of the sting out of watching

That’s a great question. Some people may look at that as

them take their final walk.

a waste. A waste of time. A waste of money. Lots and lots

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