BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – Chad Goldenstein wants his daughters, Grace (13) and Greta (10) to learn a couple of things about life.
And so, he is helping them raise cattle.
The Goldenstein’s day begins with responsibility, going to the barn where they feed, wash and train their four cows. The day ends the same way.
“There were a couple times when I got up early to do the chores, and let (Grace) rest, but then she sent me a message, ‘Why didn’t you wake me up?’ ” Chad Goldenstein said.
“Well it was 5:30, and I assumed you wanted to sleep.”
Greta doesn’t feel the same need to get up early in the morning, but she does enjoy being around the animals.
“They’re really nice,” she said. “It’s fun to lead them around.”
Chad, who also showed cattle as a child, said it’s more than just fun, though.
“It’s a lot of work to get prepared for the show,” he said.
The Goldensteins’ spring and summer months used to consist of 10 to 15 shows, but once the girls took up softball, that cut into the time they could travel.
The only fair the Goldensteins are competing in this year is the Champaign County Fair.
But just because they aren’t competing often doesn’t mean they get a break.
“You get done with this season’s work, you’re preparing for next season already,” Chad said. “It takes us months to get them to this point: getting halters on them, getting them broke.
“In all reality, they are a wild animal. You have to spend time with them. If you don’t spend time with them when they are small, it makes it really hard when they get bigger.
“The hard work you put into it gets you something in the end.”
The girls select which cattle will be sold for meat and which ones they will keep to breed.
The process of being in shows and traveling from place to place helps the girls not only learn responsibility but also helps them shed some of their shyness.
While there are about a dozen families showing cattle at the Champaign County Fair, Chad said that there will be about 1,200 to 1,800 head of cattle at the national shows the girls attend.
“It brings kids together that have the same interests,” he said. “ It helps kids who don’t like to open up to open up.”
Grace said she has enjoyed doing group projects while at the junior national tournaments.
But most of all, she loves her cattle and spending time with her dad and sister.
It’s not just the time they spend in the barn, but sitting together under a tent by their animals at the fair.
“I feel like showing the cows has brought me and my dad closer,” Grace said. “Showing the cows out here, just me, my dad and my sister.”
“I try to tell her to get out and do other stuff and meet people, but she just likes staying here,” Chad said.
This week, the Goldensteins have created more memories, too.
Greta’s cattle were spooked a few days ago and took off. Greta fell to the ground.
“We worked through it, didn’t we?” Chad said. “It didn’t stop us.”
Whether it’s cattle, cleaning Greta off or spending time together on the softball field, the Goldenstein sisters are learning a little more than hard work and responsibility from their dad.
They are learning what it means to be loved by him.
