By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Lou Ann Peavy (center) works hard to keep her life, and her kids’, balanced. She is pictured with (from left) Megan, Cheyenne, and Cody. The kids are active with livestock and other activities. — Staff photo by Taylor

May 11, 2006 - There is an old adage that says “…a man works from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done!”

While some may dispute this comment, Lou Ann Peavy of Smithville can certainly identify with it! As the mother of six “yours, mine and ours,” she certainly has her hands full just as a mom, but she doesn’t stop, there.

Peavy is in her second year as president of the Smithville Livestock Show Committee, and has worked as manager or co-manager of the area 4-H Club for four years.

She noted that while the Smithville 4-H Club has only around 15 members, ages 8- to 16 years-old, it does take some work to keep things running smoothly. That’s important to Peavy, personally, because she has three of her children, 15-year-old Cody Wofford, 13-year-old Megan Wofford, and 9-year-old Cheyenne Peavy, who are active members of not only the 4-H club, but also FFA.

Peavy’s children show heifers, steers, broilers and rabbits, usually, and participate in livestock shows in Houston and Austin. Cody also competes in the calf scramble in San Antonio.

The children are responsible for feeding their animals, before school, along with other times and agreed having a mom who is involved with FFA and 4-H “helps us out.”

Peavy has already introduced a new Texas Cooperative Extension program —  “Quality Counts” — to the Smithville area kids. The program introduces the members to a variety of correct ways to handle their livestock show projects, such as the correct way to administer site injections; how to read feed labels correctly; how much feed is enough and when to get rid of old feed.

As if all of this isn’t enough for one woman, Peavy always has a garden and raises various vegetables and fruits, with the help of all the family. Somewhere down the line, some of Peavy’s kids will probably get into the cooking competitions offered through the 4-H clubs.

When asked what the hardest part of her life is, Peavy noted that “balancing her life” with her family, the clubs’ responsibilities and trying to help other kids she meets.

Finally, as if all of the above doesn’t keep Peavy busy enough, she is pursuing a nursing degree at Austin Community College. It’s something she wants to do for herself and her family, she explained.

Peavy is as a good representative of what being a good mother is about. She is just one of many Texas women who understand “multi-tasking” and still being there for their families.

Country World salutes all mothers on Sunday, May 14.