It was a cold night, and the pipes froze in your trailer. No coffee, no toilet. Even though you’re making 19,000-step days and working long before the sun rises and long after it sets, you still claw your way out of your bunk, walk through the sub-freezing temps, and hit the gym. Even though you have vertigo, you’re in charge of the horse events at the Freeman Coliseum and push through to make the show go on. Yes, you’re sick, and yes, you can’t stand up straight, but these kids and athletes have traveled from across the country—some from Canada—to compete. There’s no sick day. You cowboy up.
That’s the work ethic of the staff and volunteers at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. But even more impressive is the work ethic of the kids.
Farm and ranch kids understand grit better than most. Their success depends on how well they care for an animal, down to its posture and coat. They work as farmhands while juggling school, maybe sports, and developing an entrepreneurial mindset for their future. Are there other things they’d rather do? Sure. But they cowboy up and get the job done.
I don’t remember ever going to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo as a kid. My son, on the other hand, has gone every year of his life. It’s been a tremendous experience for our family. This year, I got a taste of the rodeo work ethic firsthand by volunteering with the Wildlife and Natural Resources Committee.
I helped run the BB gun range, a bounce-house-like shooting gallery with Red Ryders and paper targets. Each kid got a lesson in firearm safety, then lined up their shot—many for the first time. Through this, I met kids showing animals and competing in events, and every single one of them had a level of confidence that stood out. They were tough, capable, and comfortable speaking to me like adults.
This year, the Wildlife Committee hosted the first junior taxidermy contest. Kids aged 9-18 created their own taxidermy displays, documented their process, and presented their work to a panel of judges. Here are the winners:
When I was their age, I was skipping class—not being industrious. These kids are creating, building, and cultivating skills I never dreamed of as a teenager. More than anything, it confirms what I already believed: God has endowed agriculture with a special kind of grace and discipline. These kids know what it means to cowboy up.
And that’s the kind of character I want for my son.
Not because I expect him to be a rancher or farmer, but because I want him to be responsible for something. Right now, that means helping me take care of our chickens. Maybe one day it’ll be rabbits or sheep. But in reality, I’m not just raising a kid with chores—I’m raising a man.
A man whose word means something. A man whose handshake is enough. A man with integrity. A man who honors God with his work.
Whether he ends up in an office, on a job site, or in an arena, I want him to know what it means to work hard, push through, and keep his commitments.
I want him to know what it means to cowboy up.
Awake! Put on strength! 