Life of a Show Mom with Lacey Schick

With Mother’s Day approaching this upcoming Sunday we wanted to do a special post for all the show moms out there! Show moms may not always get the credit they deserve, but from health papers, stocked coolers, starched jeans, and everything in between show kids know they can depend on mom to have the answers. It takes a special kind of lady to be able to be a show mom. The pay may not be great and the days may be really long, but it is a special job that she absolutely loves… most days. We got some insight from lifelong Simmental Breeder, Lacey Schick of Illinois, on what it’s really like to have the life of a show mom. Lacey and her husband Chris show and sell Simmental cattle all over the United States. They live in Clinton, Illinois and are co-owners of Schick Haefner Cattle Company. Lacey grew up showing cattle and wanted her girls, Conley, Mabrey, and Paisley to do the same. All great show mom’s our passionate about their kids show careers and Lacey shows us just that in this interview.

In your opinion, what is it like to be a show mom?
Being a Show Mom throws a whole new chapter into the book but by far my most fun chapter to write. Having three little mini me’s follow me around and teaching them the in’s and out’s for the cattle business is challenging yet rewarding. Juggling the hard work that needs to be done, but still getting to be a kid and have fun. The show mom hat is so much more than taking care of the cattle, it is packing the camper, picking out clothes, prepping for contests, doing hair, and keeping everyone fed. The list is long, but one I love.

You play a huge role on your farm, what is your day to day work like outside of the show?
As a family, we have a lot of iron in the fire. We farm, have a trucking company, have Simmental cattle, and are raising three little girls. In my day-to-day, I typically help prepare cattle for shows and sales. The other half of my day is just normal around the farm upkeep, mowing, fixing fence, office work, and helping in the field when needed. Nights are always busy running kids from one activity to the other.

As a mom, what is the biggest thing you try to teach and instill into your girls?
You get what you put into it! IF you want to succeed, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. In our barn, we have a saying I always bring out when the days get long, “To whom much is given, much is expected,” I usually get an eye roll, but the productivity picks back up.

How do you feel when your girls enter the ring?
Nervous, very very nervous. The first time in the ring with a new heifer, I just pray they make it through and are able to get her stopped and give a good look. As the show season goes on and my girls and their heifers get in a rhythm, I usually calm down. I usually try to step back and let Chris take the lead once we make it to the makeup area because I am very bad at hiding just how nervous I am, but I am always the first to give encouragement and wipe the sweat when the class is done.

What is your favorite part about being a show mom?
Spending our summers traveling from show to show, meeting new people that become lifelong friends, and all the memories made. We spend the whole year teaching our kids how to care for and show an animal, then watching them do it all from the sidelines. That has to be hands down the most rewarding part of being a show mom.

What is the best experience you have had as a show mom?
This last summer at Illinois State Fair had to be the best. It was Conley and Mabrey’s first year competing in the Junior Show, and both won their heats in Showmanship. Watching my girls in Showmanship is my favorite part, all the pressure is off the girls to get their heifer to the top end of the class, and their hard work and knowledge are on showcase.

What is your favorite show to attend as a family?
Our favorite show to attend is Simmental Breeders Sweepstakes. We enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, but it still has high-quality cattle from all over the US to compete against. They really focus on the promotion of your herd and make it a fun environment for the kids with a lot of activities for them to do.

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