All dressed in starched jeans, the little boy looked sharp,

He stood by the ring, ready to do his part,

To show his goat on which he'd worked so hard.



The goat was clean and clipped - he was ready to go.

he had brushed him and scrubbed him from his head to his toe.

Yes, he was ready for his very first show.



He's practiced leading and setting his goat up so square,

Wanting to do his best at his very first fair.

As his little goat nuzzled him, he suddenly didn't care.



For he knew if he won,

His goat would be gone.

The goat that he'd bought as a wee little one.



He walked in the ring, and looked the judge in the eye,

As he slowly circled the ring, the goat's head was held high.

They worked well together, so hard did they try!



The time ticked by slowly, the judge raised his voice,

He said, "It was hard, but I have made my choice."

The boy looked up and his eyes became moist.



The judge gave his reason; the boy kept a straight face,

And he smiled and said "Thank you," when he won his first place.

But, as this pair left the ring, the boy slowed his pace.



He stopped and he hugged his good little friend.

He cried 'cause he knew how their friendship would end,

For the auction was 'round the very next bend.



A young rancher walked by and saw the boy's tear-stained face.

He said, "Son, what's the matter? You just won first place!"

But then he remembered his own first calf's fate.



He remembered the pain of selling the calf he had shown.

As a child in 4-H, so long, long ago.

He remembered it hurt, and the healing was slow.



The bidding soon started, such excitement to behold.

There were pigs, there were lambs, there were calves, there were goats!

As the afternoon passed, the projects were sold.



The rancher held off bidding until the goat was led in.

His hand - it shot up, and then in the end.

The goat, it was bought, then put in the pen.



When he went to fetch him, the boy, he was there.

They shook hands and as the boy looked at him square.

He said, "Thank you for buying my goat at the fair."



As the boy turned to leave, the man said, "Whoa, friend!

I don't need a goat, not even one who'll win.

So, take him back home, and put him in his pen."



"But, remember this moment ... for when you grow old,

Do the same for another, when his first project's sold.