Full Circle

Do you ever have the feeling that you have gone full circle in something in life. I had that revaluation today when I was talking about the fairs and showing animals when I was growing up with a friend. This is a major part of my life!

So when I was a Freshman at Salinas High School, Go Cowboys! I enrolled in the FFA classes with the ambition to show pigs for the greatest Ag Teacher EVER Ken Watje. Well show pigs I did as well as speaking contests and well then working my way through the Board as Reporter and then President of Salinas FFA when I was a Senior in H.S. That was well 10 years ago. But, I am making plans to watch some of what I call 'my kids" show at the Salinas Valley Fair and got to thinking of how I wouldn't be who I am now with our Mr. Watje, Salinas FFA and well my Mom who drove the 4 Watje girls all over the State of California to show our pigs.

Molly, one of my girls from church has her first pig. She bought it from someone I used to show against. He is now a great breeder of show hogs! It is so weird to Google some of these people and go, oh you are married too and you have this great business.....oh okay!

Mr. Watje has retired and I have lost touch. I think I need to write to him. I hope he knows how much of an influence he has had in my life. See, this August Monterey County Fair will open it's gates and I will be proud to say that I, thus 28 year old lady, who is way too young to have accomplished anything other then LOVING to show pigs and lambs and goats and well everything I could get my hands on will be the President of the Monterey County Fair Board who will open the Junior Livestock Auction that I auctioned at for the first time 14 years ago. All of this do to wonderful parents who supported me in everything I did and drove so many miles for me and an Ag Teacher that was like another father to me. I do wish that Watje was around to continue to share his knowledge with other youth, but I guess that is why he has groomed so many others to do so. In a way I wish that he was here to see me come full circle. He is truly the reason I LOVE the Monterey County Fair. But, from what I know he is enjoying life with is family in the other Valley doing what he loves....breeding pigs and enjoying his grandchildren, the heirs of the Watje pig knowledge!

I guess I have come full circle. I hope to truly enjoy the run of the MCF this year and reflect on what I have accomplished in just 14 years.