Boots, Barns & Backyard Memories

AGRI-TIMES enjoyed all the submissions to our Youth Writing Contest. There were so many great essays. We read, and re read the essays, and finally decided that we needed to add a "Day in the Life" and a " Positive Outlook" category. We hope you enjoy the winning stories as much as we did!

by Bella Bassrey for Agri-Times NW

Boots? I didn’t own any. Barns? I’d only seen a couple. Backroad memories? My transportation memories mostly involved highways. I was as far away from country life as a girl could be. I was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California… the opposite of farm life. But even growing up in the city, I always loved horses and dogs and enjoyed being outdoors when I had the chance. I had a single mother who worked from home, and we lived in an apartment. My mom and I loved each other and had many beautiful experiences together for almost 10 years. Unfortunately, she found out she had breast cancer when I was 9, and she died while we were on vacation together on the East Coast in July 2024. I was devastated. I didn’t know who would take care of me, or where I would go. My mom had a cousin who lived in Eastern Washington with her husband. They had two grown sons. My grandma decided that it would be a good place for me to live. I had never met any of them, and was still sad and hurt about my loss, but my new family was welcoming, and I began to experience things I hadn’t been able to experience before. I was able to have pets for the first time in my life. The two dachshund puppies and border collie at my new home helped me with my sadness and grief and seemed to always know when I was hurting and needed extra cuddles. Even though my new family does not live on a farm or a ranch, they have extended family who do, and I began to experience the fun and hard work of farm life. I love every kind of farm animal (especially horses) and started taking horseback riding lessons as soon as I could. I also got to help bandage an injured horse and learned more about what it takes to care for horses and keep them healthy. This past summer was full of adventure. I spent a few days on my cousins’ ranch in Eastern Oregon and got to go on a cattle drive while I was there. It was an amazing experience. Even though I was sore after riding a horse all day, I would definitely do it again! Another experience I had was learning how to harvest wheat while riding with my new brother in my uncle’s combine. He gave me a little bit of the wheat to decorate my room, and it reminds me of the fun day we had together every time I see it in the vase. I joined the Feathers, Hares &  Hooves 4-H club several months ago and was able to show a chicken at our local county fair. I learned more about chickens than I ever knew there was to know and made some new friends. I was so excited when my chicken earned a blue ribbon, and even more excited when I was awarded the Junior Champion Showman ribbon for showmanship. Even though it was so hot at the fair, it was a lot of fun, and I definitely plan to show chickens in my 4-H club again next year. A few weeks ago, I got to watch baby chicks hatch from eggs. They are so cute, and it has been fun watching them grow bigger. I also have been given an opportunity to show a horse next year. This coming weekend, I will start working with him so we will both be ready to compete. Wish me luck! Boots? I have three pairs. Barns? I’ve been in several. Backroad memories? I’m making more memories all the time. Even though I wasn’t born on a ranch or farm and don’t live on one now, I know the farming and ranching life is definitely something I want when I’m older. The loss of my mom and moving from the city to the country was a huge change, but I am here now and loving it. I’ve learned the most unexpected things in life can also lead to new experiences and a happy future, and I am so grateful.