Youngsters rooted in rural life

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Triplets Will, Emma, and Sam Harrington are active 10-year-olds who often include their horses in their fun and competitions.

May 22, 2003 -- Every child has some idea of what they want to be when they go up ... a lawyer, actress, singer, fireman ... a professional in a job that's been idolized.

For three children who live just across the Red River in Grant, Okla., their dreams are strongly tied to their roots.

Ten-year-old triplets, Will, Sam and Emma Harrington, are, in some ways, just like any other active youngsters, except their idea of fun is getting up at 6 a.m. and going to work with their dad, George, rounding up cattle.

"I love getting up early and gathering cattle," Will, the oldest by two minutes, said. "There's nothing like chapped lips and gathering cattle."

Sam, the middle child, echoed the sentiment.

And, then there is Emma, the youngest, who likes gathering cattle. But where her brothers like the roping, branding, and actual cattle work, Emma enjoys "just riding her horse, Sparky."

Emma is into competition not only with her brothers but with other youth across the country. Last year, she qualified in the horsemanship division, for the Texas State 4-H Horse Show in Abilene, where she placed ninth out of 64.

In April, she, along with 4-H Junior team members Emily Fouse, Sara Stewart, and Ashley Kerwin, won first at the district horse judging contest.

Emma is also learning the slides in reining.

"I looooove reining," the blonde-headed 10-year-old, with the contagious smile, said.

Riding horses is a major part of the trio's life. They received their first horse, a pony, from an uncle when they were 2-years-old.

"They could do anything with that little pony," Mom Beth, a veterinarian who does relief work for other veterinarians, said. "They've been riding since they were little."

As members of the Paris (Texas) Rodeo and Horse Club, they recently participated in the Lamar County Junior Livestock Show. Will won Grand Champion Gelding, a first place win, two fourth place wins, and a fifth place win. Sam won a third and a fifth. Emma won the Grand Champion Mares title, two first place wins, a second place, and a third place.

Competition is a big thing in the Harrington household, but Sam, the quietest of the three, plainly stated, "I'm not much into showing."

But, ask Sam about hunting and fishing, and the strawberry blonde, freckled-face youngster's face will light up.

"I killed two turkeys with one shot," he exclaimed.

The boys said they had caught an Oklahoma record fish but the owner of the lake where they were fishing told them to put it back. Later, he said they should have keep it.

But don't leave out Emma in the hunting category. She said she helps her brothers by calling the animals up.

When asked about role models or people they look up too, it was not surprising to hear their answers: parents and grandparents (Rudy and Eloise Calabria). Emma also said she looks up to old-time cowboys because "they had the love for man and beast."

With these three, can you guess what they want to be when they grow up?

Will said he would attend OU (Oklahoma University) or OSU (Oklahoma State University), majoring in something to do with farming and ranching. "Probably range management."

Sam is going to OSU also to major in range management.

Both boys plan to return home to continue in their dad's footsteps.

Emma, on the other hand, is either going to OSU or Texas A&M. As far as her future plans, Emma said, "I would like to be a vet, but if Dad asks, I am going to be a doctor."

Whatever the three decide to do, for now, they are just happy being little cowboys and cowgirl riding the herd on their trusted steeds, Coon, Sparky and Caddy.