Rocky......

  As the Jackson County Fair came to a close on Saturday, Denise experienced many emotions through out the day. From the high of receiving an award to saying goodbye to Rocky. Denise is a 10 year 4-H member and it's the last time she can participate in showing her animals. She prepared as usual for  Saturday at the fair. There are sometimes a million things to do with taking care of her animals but the Saturday ritual is family time. Denise, Derrick and Linda take a walk through the buildings, take pictures of their 4-H projects then stop by the Farm Bureau building and get an ice cream cone then head back to the camper to get dressed for the Auction. Reality sets in. For the past 4/5 months you have taken care of your animal, feed it, loved on it and worked with it. Teaching a pig or a cow to walk a certain way is not an easy thing to do. They can be stubborn at times.
   Derrick heads to the arena first with his pig and gets a good price for it. He comes back up and sets beside me and says, Wow, Sherry, I got a good price didn't I, now I got to start all over again for next year.
  After a few hours Denise enters the arena with Rocky. There is a story as to how Denise got Rocky.....his mother had died and he was left to fend for himself. Denise got word of this and went to his rescue. She loaded him up in Dalton's truck and rode in the bed of the truck with Rocky holding him. She bottled fed him for weeks round the clock till he was able to eat on his own. Rocky turned out to be a handsome Pollard Herford.
  As Denise walks Rocky around the arena to the sound of men throwing out bids the tears can no longer be still. Just as she turns around a group of guys are standing there with a plaque in hand. The announcer states that Denise has been chosen to recieve the, "Herdsman Award." The award was handed to her by the brother of Ethan Underwood who was killed in a car wreck a few weeks earlier. Ethan was also a 10 year 4-H member. It was so emotional, everyone was standing and cheering for Denise. She like Derrick also got a good price. We all headed back to the barn to tie Rocky up and wait for the man to come for him. We all gave Rocky a good rubbing behind the ears. I got attached to Rocky visiting him often in the barn. Number 21, the man says, load him in the red hauler. Denise unties Rocky with Linda not far behind, me and Derrick bring up the rear, we all head for the hauler. Denise tells the man she wants to keep his number tag from his ear and then she gives him a hug with tears running down her cheeks, the man loads him in the hauler. We all stand there for what seems like hours just looking a Rocky, looking back at us. Denise turns and heads back to the barn and tells us, lets go. She never looked back, her heart was hurting to much to take one more look at Rocky. I looked over my shoulder, to see Rocky watching us walk away. Denise still with tears in her eyes loads up the show box, and prepares to head home knowing that another door has just closed in her journey in life.

   Jackson-Jennings Co-Op purchased Rocky. They donated their purchase to a food pantry. Rocky was left to fend for his self as so many humans have to do. Rocky would be proud that he was helping take care of a hungry family......love you Rocky!!!