Ladies and Germs,
After equal doses of neglect and admonishment I sit before this screen wringing out what is left of the rivulets of thought passing between my ears. (Wasn't college great)!!
With fair season close at hand I thought we might talk a bit about showmanship in our livestock projects. While there are volumes and many blogs we can share on other issues, let's focus on showmanship and its values.
Having shown livestock in 4-H for 11 years, judged livestock at the 4-H and collegiate levels, and having judged multiple species at several county and state fairs I feel like I can offer a word or two on the subject of showmanship.
First and foremost we need to understand that showmanship is an arena that we can all compete on even footing. That's what I like most about this aspect of the competition. As a judge I am making this all about YOU, not your critter. I am evaluating the amount of knowledge you posess, your skill level in exhibiting your animal, and the obvious amount of good old fashioned elbow grease and time you have put forth. This includes, but is not limited to, how the animal is presented--is it show ring ready? Clean, clipped, trimmed, in show condition, and most importantly---manageable? These things tell me, as a judge, just how involved you have been with your project. Your calf doesn't have to be a class winner to win showmanship, that's up to you. If I ask you where the rack is on your lamb, you will need to be able to show me and tell me why that might be something worth knowing. If I ask you what your feed program has been for your pig project I expect to hear something beyond, "Dad feeds him grain every day". I expect you to inform me through your presentations; orally, physically, and mentally, that you are a hands on caretaker, trainer, and student of the industry your project represents. I expect you to have spent the time and effort, blood, sweat and tears that it takes to bring a top caliber exhibit into the show ring for me to evaluate. And trust me, it is fairly easy to separate the kids who do their own work as opposed to a different situation. ('Nuther day, folks).
My whole point here is that you don't have to spend the family savings to "be competetive". Let the muckity mucks go spend $15,000 on a steer that will sell for $6,500 as the fair champion. I want you to be the sensible individual that spends what you can on a project you are interested in. Then I want you to learn everything you can about that project and industry. Trust me, you will be easy to find. You'll be the one who actually knows something!
On a closing note, I would like to offer that the showmanship buckle/trophy and ribbons are just the same as the others...sort of. They just don't hold all the debt some of the others do.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Friday, September 19, 2008
Colorado Boer Classic
The innaugural Colorado Boer Classic, held August 30, 2008 at the Southeast Weld County Fairgrounds, Keenesburg, CO, was a great day--top to bottom. Hosted by Pleasant Bayou Farm, E-I-E-I-Owe Farms, Mauck Boer Goats, Ritchey-Phipps Show Goats, TNJ Boers, and Lucky Clover Boers, the event featured an American Boer Goat Association sanctioned show and invitational production sale following the show.
Ewing Downen, Early, TX, was charged with the task of evaluating approximately 60 head of quality, percentage, purebred, and fullblood breeding animals. Mr. Downen did an admirable job of sorting through the breeders' offerings, lending comment and critique along the way. Randy and Cindy Dusek, Lazy S-T Ranch, San Angelo, TX, had a very good day, capturing Overall Grand Champion Buck as well as Overall Grand Champion Percentage Doe honors. Nebraska Boer Goats, Greg and Gloria Floyd, Scottsbluff, NE, continued their streak of Overall Grand Champion Fullblood Doe with their great female that seems nigh unbeatable this year! A full and official show results schedule will be published and posted pending ABGA verification and acceptance.
The Colorado Boer Classic Sale turned out to be an equal success, offering 35 percentage and fullblood females, 5 Fullblood bucks, and 17 head of Stock Show age wethers. Buyers representing 4 states viewed the Labor Day weekend offering and bid actively when the sale began at 2:30 pm, with Wayne Kruse of Centennial Livestock Auction, Ft. Collins, crying the sale. 35 does found new homes at an average price tag of $251.43. Randy and Cindy Dusek, Lazy S-T, San Angelo, TX, purchased the high selling doe for $450, consigned by E-I-E-I-Owe Farms, Keenesburg, CO. The offering of bucks was limited, but well received as 5 stud buck prospects averaged $365.00. Tim Seltzer of Briggsdale, CO loaded the crown jewel of the bucks on his trailer and traded paper with consignor, TNJ Boers, Gill, CO, for $675. Volume buyer at the sale was Derrick Brown of Ft. Collins, CO who spoke for a total of 14 head. Another very lively arm at the CBC sale was Bryce Waugh who relocated 11 head of quality caprines to Buffalo, OK. The Washington Focus 4-H crew did a great job at keeping everyone fed and hydrated during the event. Hats off to 'ya!
Once again, we would like to thank all who attended and participated in this first time event. Mark your calendars for next year...same time..Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, same place...SE Weld County Fairgrounds, Keenesburg, CO. We'll see you there!
Ewing Downen, Early, TX, was charged with the task of evaluating approximately 60 head of quality, percentage, purebred, and fullblood breeding animals. Mr. Downen did an admirable job of sorting through the breeders' offerings, lending comment and critique along the way. Randy and Cindy Dusek, Lazy S-T Ranch, San Angelo, TX, had a very good day, capturing Overall Grand Champion Buck as well as Overall Grand Champion Percentage Doe honors. Nebraska Boer Goats, Greg and Gloria Floyd, Scottsbluff, NE, continued their streak of Overall Grand Champion Fullblood Doe with their great female that seems nigh unbeatable this year! A full and official show results schedule will be published and posted pending ABGA verification and acceptance.
The Colorado Boer Classic Sale turned out to be an equal success, offering 35 percentage and fullblood females, 5 Fullblood bucks, and 17 head of Stock Show age wethers. Buyers representing 4 states viewed the Labor Day weekend offering and bid actively when the sale began at 2:30 pm, with Wayne Kruse of Centennial Livestock Auction, Ft. Collins, crying the sale. 35 does found new homes at an average price tag of $251.43. Randy and Cindy Dusek, Lazy S-T, San Angelo, TX, purchased the high selling doe for $450, consigned by E-I-E-I-Owe Farms, Keenesburg, CO. The offering of bucks was limited, but well received as 5 stud buck prospects averaged $365.00. Tim Seltzer of Briggsdale, CO loaded the crown jewel of the bucks on his trailer and traded paper with consignor, TNJ Boers, Gill, CO, for $675. Volume buyer at the sale was Derrick Brown of Ft. Collins, CO who spoke for a total of 14 head. Another very lively arm at the CBC sale was Bryce Waugh who relocated 11 head of quality caprines to Buffalo, OK. The Washington Focus 4-H crew did a great job at keeping everyone fed and hydrated during the event. Hats off to 'ya!
Once again, we would like to thank all who attended and participated in this first time event. Mark your calendars for next year...same time..Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, same place...SE Weld County Fairgrounds, Keenesburg, CO. We'll see you there!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
The Power of Positive Thinking
My high school counselor once told me that big shots are just little shots that keep shooting. That phrase has continued to come to the surface through most of my semi-adult life. Though the metaphor is entertaining, at least, I believe it holds some real value.
The wether goat that you see pictured on the home page of our website is a good example. We took our show goats to the Extravaganza and just put that little wether on the trailer so my nephew would have another goat to show. That almost didn't happen due to events of the preceding evening. (There is a reason he was dubbed "Screwball"). Screwball was much younger than probably every goat there, thus putting him at a real disadvantage. My thoughts were that Ben would get to show him in class, get "out-horsed", then take him back to the pen. More and more goats were sent to the rail, and Ben and Screwball were still out there! This is a two and a half month old wether that weighed into the medium heavy class and is making a run at the "big boys". Now he's 5th, Now he's 4th for sure, can't do any worse than 3rd..and on up where he won his class! Ben worked hard showing that wether and it paid off, quite literally, when he took Screwball back in for the Grand Champion Drive and took home all the marbles from the jackpot. As much as my expectations were wildly exceeded, Ben believed in himself and Screwball as a team and quietly worked his way to the top. Ben didn't know that the older, larger, assumptively high priced wethers were supposed to win that jackpot. He kept a positive, open frame of mind and good things happened. He also learned lesson one of being an effective salesman,.....PMA=OPM. (Positive Mental Attitude = Other Peoples Money)!
So next time you face adversity, uncertainty, fright, fight, or flogging, don't give up! Don't sell yourself short and settle for less. Put on your PMA, work diligently, believe in yourself and keep going. Remember, big shots are just little shots that keep shooting.
The wether goat that you see pictured on the home page of our website is a good example. We took our show goats to the Extravaganza and just put that little wether on the trailer so my nephew would have another goat to show. That almost didn't happen due to events of the preceding evening. (There is a reason he was dubbed "Screwball"). Screwball was much younger than probably every goat there, thus putting him at a real disadvantage. My thoughts were that Ben would get to show him in class, get "out-horsed", then take him back to the pen. More and more goats were sent to the rail, and Ben and Screwball were still out there! This is a two and a half month old wether that weighed into the medium heavy class and is making a run at the "big boys". Now he's 5th, Now he's 4th for sure, can't do any worse than 3rd..and on up where he won his class! Ben worked hard showing that wether and it paid off, quite literally, when he took Screwball back in for the Grand Champion Drive and took home all the marbles from the jackpot. As much as my expectations were wildly exceeded, Ben believed in himself and Screwball as a team and quietly worked his way to the top. Ben didn't know that the older, larger, assumptively high priced wethers were supposed to win that jackpot. He kept a positive, open frame of mind and good things happened. He also learned lesson one of being an effective salesman,.....PMA=OPM. (Positive Mental Attitude = Other Peoples Money)!
So next time you face adversity, uncertainty, fright, fight, or flogging, don't give up! Don't sell yourself short and settle for less. Put on your PMA, work diligently, believe in yourself and keep going. Remember, big shots are just little shots that keep shooting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)