Grand Champion Grind

Boot on the gravel,

dawn in the cold

Water on the brush,

breath in the smoke Before that sun cut the fence line red

We were up with the feed scoop,

half asleep in the head Soap on the hide,

cold hose on the pen

Mama tying gate chains,

Daddy backing in

Shavings on the jeans and the mud on the floor

Trailer tires humming down a two-lane road Coffee in a thermos,

prayer in the cab Whole house moving quiet for the life we

have Every buckle, every brush,

every weight on the card A banner ain't luck when the road

runs hard We were banner built,

raised in the dust Hands on the rail,

put it all in trust From the barn at dawn to the

ring at night We carry that name when we step in the

light Banner built, hearts don't fold Cold fairground air and a backbone

of gold County roads shaking with the trailer behind Check-in tag on

the gate and the judge on my mind

Late-night feed check, flashlight in my teeth Walking that barrow slow on

the chilled concrete You can see who worked by the shape and

tone By the way that one drives and handles alone Thick hind

leg, massive ham, wide top too Heavy muscle expression when he comes

on through Structural correctness,

athletic in stride Balanced body shape with a champion's kind Three A.M.

trailer, little space heater glow

Kids in the blankets and the aisle way cold Buckets half full

and the chain leads sway Boot steps in the frost,

still chasing that day So tired it hurts but nobody quits Dreams

ride quiet in a fairground lot We were banner built,

raised in the dust Hands on the rail,

put it all in trust From the barn at dawn to the

ring at night We carry that name when we step in the

light Banner built, hearts don't fold Cold fairground air and a backbone

of gold If we win or lose,

we still load that gate Still love this life and the work

it takes Blue ribbon dreams and the sawdust floor

Family name strong, we come back for more

Banner built

Banner built