Dear mom and dad, I know I can be a pain. I know I may not always come home right on time. And I know I should maybe clean my room, do the laundry, let the dog out, clean the dishes, and unload the dishwasher before you get home from work. But I also do know your love for me does not go unnoticed. Mom is the first to come into my room after a long day of work asking how my day was. And dad is always the first to ask me if I want to join him when helping out with the cows. Each of you knows what truly makes me happy, and how to make me happy. Even though I try not to smile when mom does her annoying stare, or jumps into bed with me, she always finds a way to make me laugh. I want to thank you mom for giving me my beauty, inside and out. I would also like to thank you for pushing me to strive for greatness. You taught me how to set standards for myself, to lead with passion, and to always think about others. My selflessness, and devotion for helping others stems from your character, and the grandfather I have been blessed with. Dad, I would like to thank you for giving me my sarcasm, and my cooking skills. Your hard work, and compassion for continuing the breeding business has helped both Brett and I grow closer to you which has made me learn more about you. You believe hard work and dedication will always pay off, and you also believe dinner must always be served every night whether it is for the family, or for the cows. I want to thank you for always being ringside at all of the cow shows, and I want to thank you for never giving up on me. Both mom and dad have made me the person I am today. With the amount of sacrifices each of you have taken to raise such a hard working, strong, independent family does not go unnoticed throughout the community of friends we have. Kate, Brett and I have all successfully gotten jobs, and have also been involved in 4-H, FFA, Leadership, sports, and clubs. You focus more on our development, and character more than our grades we get in our classes. Life isn’t about the letter grade you got on a test, it is about what you did with that letter grade to get a better grade the next time.