This last week Gustavo and me went to Houston for the Livestock Show and Rodeo (the same trip that I was talking about in the last post). We have been invited by Dr. Kevin Pond, professor and chair of the Animal Science Department at TTU and also a good and dedicated friend. Dr. Pond has been helping me a lot since I got here in US and one of the things that he would like to make sure I wouldn’t miss was the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I guess is the biggest fair in US, and believe me, it is huge! The fair is a little bit different from those that we have in Brazil, it’s in a big barn where everything is in (animals, companies booths and attractions). There is no place for all the animals and breeds at the same time, to they make turns for each breed to make their show. This week was going on the Brahman show and beginning of Brangus and Santa Gertrudes shows. We were received by the international committee and got the chance to meet several people from other countries (mostly from Latin America).
Among the people that we met there there is one farmer, director of international relationships of the Rural Society of Paraná (from Londrina), Paulo Vilela. We have been talking to him and said how amazed we were by everything that we were seeing there in Houston, how everything works and how people are committed with the show. He told me that he is trying to change a bit the reality of our country, trying to take hope and innovation for our fairs and class and how hard is it, but he still fighting for it. He trusts a lot in our generation, that we have the potential to change the reality and make thing better, that we can star working together and pursuit the common wellbeing and prosperity. It is good to see that we have people that believe in our country, in our youth, in our potential to grow and make the difference there. We just cannot stay waiting for other people, we need to change ourselves (also meaning start changing “us”). That’s the kind of people that I like meeting, that’s the kind of people that incentive us to study, learn more and work harder to find the solution instead of stay complaining and trying to find some one to guilt.
Still talking about the Livestock Show and Rodeo, another thing that took my attention was the speed that they change categories and build stages in the rodeo. Is a really fast process. Whenever they are with the bronco riding there are steers in the other end of the arena being prepared for the roping and when that begins the bulls are being prepared for back riding also. Is incredible how things work as gears. The rodeo never stops, you don’t have to wait for transitions in between competitions! People are well prepared and organized here! It’s impressive. The rodeo and the shows were a blast.
Coincidences always happens when we are talking to people. I met a friend of some good friends from Livramento and that know my parents also. Unfortunately we were in a rush and I couldn’t talk much with Mr. Patrick, but I hope to see him in the Expointer. Another one was a girl cousin of a friend of ours from the Jersey association in Rio Grande do Sul. That’s why I like talking to people, we always find out amazing things. About human relationships, we did great making contacts there and fortunately we find some more farmers that will gladly receive us it their farms for a visit (one of my objectives for the semester is visiting farms to learn how people work here).
The cattle in the show was really good and even. I bet it was difficult for judging. We just saw the Brahman show (unfortunately I am not too familiar with the breed characteristics to understand better the the judgment) but I wish I could see the Angus and Hereford one. I was a little bit disappointed because there was nothing about dairy cattle. But, as a friend of mine said, we are in the beef area, there wont be much dairies (actually they are coming to TX).
Well, I guess this is a briefly report about what we saw there. Whenever you have the chance to go to a show like that do it. It worth a lot going. I want to thank the Pond Family that received and hosted us there as part of their family. We have no words to say how grateful we are for everything that you have done! I hope we can return the affection whenever you go to Brazil.
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