Every year in the United States one of the biggest sporting events in the world happens. The legendary horse race known as the Kentucky Derby, which is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, a highly coveted award that few have ever won. Many legendary horses have won this race and have been celebrated all over the world. Legends such as Secretariat, War Admiral, Seattle Slew, and the recent legend American Pharoah. What do these horses have in common? Aside from being legendary triple crown winners, these horses have the look of a champion. The champions are large, sleek, beautiful, the champions have that look and often those who don’t have it aren’t champions. 

However, every once in a while lightning strikes. A little colt was born. He was everything but a champion. His father had earned over a million dollars as a race horse, however he did little to impress anyone when he was born. He was small, skinny, and simply put, ugly. He was sold almost immediately without a second thought for the price of $9,500 which in the racehorse world is rock bottom. 

Two cowboys from New Mexico bought him. They believed in the little colt despite everyone telling them they had no chance. Eventually he made it as an alternate to the Kentucky Derby. Already outperforming what anyone expected. He arrived in a truck and trailer driven all the way from New Mexico with two men in cowboy hats. Every other horse was flown in, all the other owners wore fancy suits, but not his. Then another horse pulled out of the race allowing Mine That Bird to enter the race, as a 50-1 underdog —the second longest shot to ever run in the Kentucky Derby. When the gates opened he sat last as expected, as the field came around the last turn he sat around the 10th position. But all of a sudden his jockey saw a gap in the horses and he exploded through it. Mine That Bird won the Derby by 6 ¾ lengths, the longest margin of victory in 60 years. Mine That Bird now enjoys retirement in New Mexico after earning over $2.2 Million dollars racing. 

While every indication showed him and his owners that he wouldn’t belong, he proved that he belonged no matter what. At times you might feel like you don’t belong or people might try to tell you that you don’t belong. Maybe you didn’t grow up on a farm, maybe your parents weren’t in FFA or even know what FFA is. But I encourage you to remember that here you will always belong no matter what.