I had been tasked with covering the dairy shows at the Fort Worth Stock Show. I was excited and couldn’t wait to be greeted with sunshine and 70 degrees in January. Unfortunately, the weather in Fort Worth didn’t get the memo, and instead we got off the airplane with sunshine, 30 degrees and wind.

I decided not to dwell on the weather since it was in the single-digits back home. Instead, I layered up and ventured to the Fort Worth Stock Show. It was big and impressive, just as I knew it would be.

I saw a sea of cowboy hats, starched jeans and bling everywhere I turned. Country music was blasting from every speaker on the grounds and the clip-clop of horses was in earshot all day long.

The Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn shows were about to begin, and with my camera in hand, I was ready to take photos, my husband was ready to mark the placings and soon we would be in the groove of covering a cow show. I introduced myself to the ring steward, clerk and announcer. They were all dressed exactly alike: starched jeans and boots, green blazers with a Fort Worth Stock Show badge and cowboy hats.

I began to take photos and I noticed that while I walked around the ring, the green blazer brigade was staring at me. For the entire show they kept a close eye on me and I wasn’t sure why, but I had a hunch they had never had a photographer participate in a show like this before. I tried to make small talk, but they were short on conversation.

The next morning, we would begin with Brown Swiss and Guernseys. As I took my camera out, one of the green blazer brigade approached me. He introduced himself and asked if he could have a word with me. I was all too happy to meet more Forth Worth Stock Show staff members and since he was the livestock superintendent, I was elated to meet the man in charge.

When we finished with introductions he kindly told me that I was not allowed in the ring during the show, at all. He instructed me that I could stay outside the ring and along the rail but I was not allowed to go in the ring. I responded with a simple, “Okay, but why?”

He answered, “That’s not how we do things here at the Fort Worth Stock Show.” When I cheerfully tried to explain what I was doing and that sponsors paid for us to cover the show and that it was great publicity for their event, he interrupted me and firmly said, “That’s not how we do things here in Fort Worth.”

At this point, I knew an argument was not going to be polite or productive, so I relented. For the rest of the day, I paced back and forth along the rail like a nervous horse in an unfamiliar stall, trying to find the best spot to capture a good representation of the cattle.

Regardless of the hurdle in front of me, I was determined more than ever to do a good job, and smile while I did it. The exhibitors and sponsors of our show coverage were kind and understanding when I explained my predicament. And, I enjoyed getting to know breeders from an area of the country that isn’t always in the show ring spotlight.

I’m guilty of forgetting how good I have it. Fort Worth served as reminder of the 80-some shows we covered last year from March to November, and how in every single show we were welcomed with free access to the ring to promote the show, the cattle and the exhibitors who paid hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to compete. I hope I don’t ever take that for granted again.

Thank you Fort Worth, for showing me that’s not how we do it around here.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.