By JADA TRIETSCH
Sheridan High School Student
Two years ago, Sheridan’s own Jada Trietsch powered through an appendectomy and still showed her steer Bufford at the Boone County Fair. (Photo provided)
Editor’s note: The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade honors English class, taught by Tanya Busailah.
I serve as class president and am a member of the Sheridan Athletic Ambassadors. In addition to these roles, I compete in soccer, track, and cheerleading.
Outside of school, I also serve as the president of my 4-H club. Two summers ago, I showed cattle for the first time at the Boone County Fair. I spent months preparing for the event by carefully walking my crossbred steer, Bufford, and getting him into top condition.
There are two cattle shows at the fair: the open show on Saturday and the official show on Sunday afternoon. As the weekend approached, I began to feel off. I figured it was just pre-show nerves, especially since it was my first time competing. On Saturday, I arrived early and was captivated by the experienced showmen leading their cows. I paid close attention to every detail including their careful steps, how they made sure their eyes followed the judge, and their perfect foot placement. I couldn’t help but admire their stylish outfits, boots, and shiny belts. I thought to myself, “I can’t wait to be like them one day.”
Since Bufford was one of the last steers to show, I spent the day wandering around the fairgrounds. As usual, I treated myself to my favorite fair snack, a grilled cheese sandwich, but as soon as I took a bite, I immediately spat it out. I felt a wave of discomfort and nausea, and the thought of moving was almost unbearable. I told my mom how I was feeling, and she reassured me it was likely due to the heat and nerves. Trusting her, I pushed through and stayed for the rest of the day.
That night, around 3 a.m., I woke up feeling even worse. I ran to the bathroom and quickly realized something was seriously wrong. I couldn’t keep anything down, and the pain was overwhelming. I knew this wasn’t just nerves anymore. My mom rushed me to the emergency room, thinking I might have just caught a stomach bug. After a long wait, the doctors came in with alarming news: I had appendicitis and needed emergency surgery.
Although I had just been released from the hospital, the fair continued, and the show wasn’t over yet. Even with fresh memories of my surgery, I was determined to finish what I had started. Despite the pain and exhaustion, I spent the rest of the week at the fair, doing my best to keep Bufford in shape. A few days after surgery, I showed my steer at the auction.
It wasn’t the experience I had imagined, but it was incredibly meaningful. The support from my family, friends, and 4-H community kept me going, and I will always remember that year at the Boone County Fair as one of the most unforgettable moments of my life.