4H and FFA

1
Showmanship It Begins With You
4-H and FFA Beef School July 19-22, 1999
2
It begins with youat home

• Showmanship begins at home. You must take time at
  home to develop a relationship with your animal.
  The way your animal responds in the show ring is
  a direct result of the time you spend working
  with the animal at home.
• The following tasks are ways for you to spend
  time with your animal in order to develop a
  positive working relationship
• Verbal Communication
• Physical Contact
• Show Ring Practice
• Presence in the Barn

3
It begins with youat the show

• Showmanship is about you and your animal. It is
  important for you and your animal to look sharp
  when you enter the ring for competition.
• Your animal
• Clean and Dry- dont forget the head, ears and
  belly
• In Show Condition- fed and watered
• Fitted (if appropriate)
• Wearing a Show Halter- fitted properly and clean
  strap should be shortened so it does not drag on
  the ground
• You
• Clean, Hair fixed/combed
• Wearing Show ring Attire-
• No hats
• Nice shirt and pants (t-shirt only if required)
• Belt
• Hard toed shoes
• Exhibitor Number
• Have Show Equipment- scotch comb and stick

4
It begins with youin the ring

• Showmanship has many factors. Primarily it
  concerns how well you present your animal to the
  judge. This is not a complete list of pointers,
  but it is a start.
• Lead your calf around in the ring prior to the
  show if allowable
• Observe the ring for low spots, distractions,
  etc.
• View the classes before you to observe ring
  procedures
• View the classes before you to hear the judges
  comments
• Always report for your class on time
• Be aggressive to select your place in the line up
  (if you are not assigned an order to enter the
  ring)
• Keep eye contact with the judge but do not have
  a stare down
• Follow the ringpersons instructions
• Keep your animal in line so the judge has a good
  view
• Help the exhibitor in front of you
• Leave yourself room to best exhibit your animal
• Use the entire ring to show your animal on the
  move

5
It begins with youin the ring

• Prepare to stop before you stop so you can lead
  your animal into a set-up position
• Switch hand position graciously never wrap the
  strap around your hand
• Set up your animal as quickly as possible
• Take care of the BIG problems first
• Use post set up for side by side lining
• Use profile set up for head to tail lining
• Set up your animal to amplify its strengths
• Close the gaps when animals are being placed
• When circling, always turn toward your animal
• Circle as a last resort it has a domino effect
• Be prepared to answer the judges questions
• Stay calm even if you are having difficulty
• Never give up the judge may be watching you
• Smile and have fun

6
It begins with youproject knowledge

• An important aspect of showmanship is your
  knowledge of the project. You may be the best
  showman, but if you do not know anything about
  your project you will not have the competitive
  edge. Project knowledge increases with age and
  years of experience. The following list of topics
  are examples of information you should know for
  the judges questions. (advanced questions 8th
  grade and above)
• Every Animal
• Breed Sire/Dam
• Age Birth date
• Weight
• Frame Score
• Daily Feed Intake Feed Make-up
• Location of Body Parts
• Strengths and Weaknesses of Your Animal
• What You Learned From the Project
• Daily Care Practices

7
It begins with youproject knowledge

• Heifers
• Breeding Plans
• EPD Basics
• Maternal Traits and Terms (ie. Gestation)
• Projected Mature Weight
• Steers
• Rate of Gain
• Projected Finishing Weight
• Amount of Fat Cover
• Expected Quality Grade Yield Grade
• Estimated Ribeye Area
• Market Traits and Terms (ie. Marbling, Dressing
  )

8
Notes
Prior preparation prevents poor
performance. Practice makes perfect!