Service. Seven letters, can make a huge impact in someone's life.

As I was looking at my Time Hop App today I realized exactly one year ago today I was in Washington, DC attending Washington Leadership Conference with my teammate Sarah Forbes. I had before attending WLC heard about how awesome it was and that I should try to go. So I ended up boarding a plane, not knowing what to expect just ready to see what WLC was like.

            The experience was life changing. I don’t say this because it sounds cool.. I mean this realistically. I met so many great people and learned more about my purpose and service. At the end of the week each participant must chose a Living to Serve Plan (LTS Plan). My family has had some hardships with cancer so I wanted to do something that would benefit the American Cancer Society with my LTS Plan. Ashtyn Strewsberry, Former Nebraska State Officer told me my Sophomore year of high school about how she made Parachord Bracelets and sold them and gave the proceeds to children who had clef pallets. I borrowed her idea and decided to make parachord bracelets, but I could have parachord to represent every type of cancer.

            One thing that stuck out for me from the conference that I haven’t forgotten until this day is it’s not about what others have done for me; it’s about what I can do for others. Service. It may just be seven letters, but it could make a huge impact on others. At the end of the day it isn’t about the legacy you lived it’s about the legacy you left. Make your legacy a good one. Think about volunteering in your local community it could be as simple as baking cookies for an elderly person, or helping pick up trash in the roadside ditches. Whatever you choose to do be passionate, even the littlest things can make the biggest difference in a person’s life.

            So far I have raised over $200 and have a goal of raising $1,000. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. If you are interested in a Parachord Bracelet they are $5 each, please email me at haleyehrke@icloud.com or go to my Facebook Page Parachord Bracelets for Cancer to learn more.

I am pictured with a donation check made to the American Cancer Society from the proceeds from my Parachord Bracelets for Cancer project.

Here are some examples of some Parachord Bracelets I have made. 

Quote of the Week: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. –Mahatma Gandhi

It's about the experience you gain

One of the main things I have learned from showing cattle is how to make a return on your investment. Now this may sound silly when I say I love showing steers, but I have learned the importance of a good heifer that turns into a cow. I have not shown too many heifers throughout my show career, but I have been fortunate to be able to use my winnings from my steers to purchase commercial Simmental/Angus cross cows to put in my herd. This May I made a huge investment at 18 years old. I purchased fourteen Simmental/Angus cross cows. All fourteen cows have a calf on their side and I am excited to be able to sell 18 calves on Big Blue Sale barn. I will also have my five “show calves” selling this fall on Lueking Club Calves Fall Sale.

            I was really proud, was when I found out an old show heifer “Bling” had raised a steer calf that I sold last fall to a family in Colorado won a Steer Show. This cow was never Supreme Heifer, but she has proved herself in the Donor Pen. Which is worth more than winning that Supreme Heifer title. Congratulations, Trista Lebsack from Bennett, CO on your Champion Market Animal that was Raised and Sold by H & P Ehrke Cattle Company and Lueking Club Calves

Bling (Monopoly) X Bodacious.

            One thing I want everyone to remember when they are nearing there county fair, it’s not the ribbon you receive it’s what you gain from the experience. My heifer “Bling” the one I talked about never winning Supreme Heifer ever, yeah she got a blue ribbon and eighth in her class at Ak-Sar-Ben. Was I upset because of the color the ribbon? Yeah, but she turned out to be a great donor cow that is making me money for college. Enjoy the experience it does go fast, and it is not about the ribbon, it’s about the experience you gain.

I hope everyone had a great 4^th of July. I’m off to a fun week at the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute.

Trista Lebsack Grand Champion Market Animal, Bennett, CO. (Bling) Monopoly X Bodacious Raised and Sold by Lueking Club Calves and H & P Cattle Company.

Quote of the Week

“Life is a journey with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to enjoy.” -Unknown