18/09/2025
It doesn't matter if you're showing and winning with homegrown animals, or animals by other breeders. Winning in the show ring or on the tables with animals that aren't ones own doesn't qualify as cheating, or beating any magical system. If one thinks that way, it stems from jealousy. While yes, the end goal is to be showing and winning with homegrown animals with that persons name on it, doing the aforementioned doesn't qualify someone as a cheater in any shape or form. Especially when referencing youth. It's not a rat race, we all have our own timelines.
Someone newer in the hobby with the right resources, mindset, and eye for something/skills can easily come in and wipe someone out of the ring and off the tables versus someone who has been in the hobby double or triple the amount of time if the person who's been doing it longer either A) doesn't know what they're doing and never caught on or B) has had setbacks.
Remember, breeding and showing is NOT about ribbons and winning. If you think it is, your mind is in the wrong place and breeding is NOT for you. If all you can do is get jealous and hate on others when you SHOULD be cheering them on, then please find another hobby. We are ALL in this together, and that's to keep our chosen critters going and bettering their breed/variety.
Have some VERY quickly snapped photos of some newly senior homegrown reds with some adorable signature monkey faces from their seasonal molts. Can't remember if this is a buck or doe, but I plan to offer two boys up (one broken one solid) at the Lumberton NC show next month, October 18th. Photos were difficult and brief that day since I had a large iPad tablet I was using and using one hand for them-- haha. Hoping to have my phone replaced soon and finally purchase a much needed upgrade so expect better quality photos and more to come. Don't keep a crab in a bucket mentality. Give credit where credit is due. If someone comes along newer than me despite my years in this game and places above me, I will still happily congratulate them because it's the way of the road.