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What do you buy a teenager turning 16 years old? The only gifts I remember from my teen years from my parents were luggage "to go to college" and a tent — my dad said, "So you'll never be homeless."

I brainstormed new ideas last month for our daughter Elizabeth's pending 16th birthday with my husband as we flew to Tucson, Arizona, on Thanksgiving Day to spend the holiday with our son. Our youngest daughter traveled with us, and my parents were already there.

Elizabeth stayed home with my grandma as she had high school basketball practice to attend after the holiday. She feasted on the meal I prepared ahead for her to warm up, and she baked two pecan pies with my Grandma Nola's recipe in her farmhouse kitchen.

Following the Thanksgiving feast, Elizabeth deer hunted with my cattleman uncle, Jim. While she didn't fill her deer tag, she also brainstormed her 16th birthday present with Jim.

When we arrived home on Sunday from our quick Arizona holiday, Elizabeth presented her birthday idea. On her 16th birthday, Dec. 9, there was a Hereford sale from which she planned to purchase a heifer with my uncle's insight and help. She knew the amount of money in her savings account and had a specific amount she wanted to allocate toward the purchase.

Would her father and I contribute towards the 4-H beef heifer purchase on her 16th birthday? she asked.

Katie Pinke / Agweek

Elizabeth, Nathan, younger sister Anika and I discussed a budget. The top heifer in the sale we agreed would go for more than Elizabeth (and we) were prepared to pay. But she wanted to aim for another one, possibly the second best, my uncle thought, in the sale.

Non-livestock Nathan said he gets nervous transporting such expensive animals. Anika cut a smile realizing that her dad may not have realized in the past how much we've spent on 4-H animals and then confessing how much her bred cow was purchased for last fall. Yes, we talked to him about it, but it may not have stuck.

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Then we all talked about the "why" behind our support of our girls and their 4-H beef projects and engagement.

We're not active farmers or ranchers. We have other small businesses. Our family members do actively farm and ranch, and we want our girls to know, understand and learn agriculture.

Then Elizabeth said, "And our cattle can help us pay for college when we don't have any other money!"

And so it was, on Elizabeth's 16th birthday, she, with two of my uncles' assistance and direction, bought the heifer she wanted. It was a snowy day that didn't allow for travel, but the cattle sale was online.

When she shared the total purchase price, she pointed out it was under the budget we set, and she was paying a majority of the cost from her savings for a new 4-H beef project for 2024.

As an additional gift for her birthday, non-livestock Nathan drove to the farm, picked up my uncle's pickup and trailer and drove to pick up the heifer and bring it home. He may not raise livestock himself but Nathan is a dad who loves to see joy in our kids and supports their passions, even if different than his own.

We will always remember Elizabeth's 16th birthday heifer purchase — different than most girls' wish lists for their Sweet 16. Watching our kids grow their passion and develop life skills by engaging in agriculture fills me with joy this dark winter season, thinking ahead to the warmer days of spring and early summer when our girls will be in the thick of beef project preparations and county fair showing. The sweetness of each season, and birthday, I appreciate.

Pinke is the publisher and general manager of Agweek. She can be reached at kpinke@agweek.com, or connect with her on Twitter @katpinke.