showmanship judging

Cattlegirl19 · Feb 28, 2026

what was something that has been make or break in a showmanship class? for example, a judge says “i would have placed this showman higher if she had just…” or “what made this showman my favorite was that he…”
dos and donts that you’ve seen judges like or dislike?
this will be my first year being a real competitor in showmanship, and i’m really just looking for any advice! thanks!!

Lucy · Apr 29, 2026

I’m sure there’s difference in showmanship judging in America and Australia (which is where I’m from) but I remember at one show I was at the kid in first place stopped showing off his steer once he placed but the kid in second didn’t and the judge swapped them so that’s always something I’ve remembered in the ring and I make sure I don’t stop showing off my steer and making him look his best until I’ve left the ring, even if I haven’t placed

Cattlegirl19 · May 2, 2026

interesting! yeah that is very good to know, and i will certainly keep that in mind next time i step into the ring. thank you so much!

Lucy · May 5, 2026

Cattlegirl19 said:
interesting! yeah that is very good to know, and i will certainly keep that in mind next time i step into the ring. thank you so much!

When’s your first show this season?? I’ve got my last one for my two steer’s next week so I can let you know what the judge says in showmanship (we call it parading where i’m from)

Cattlegirl19 · May 5, 2026

that would be amazing, thank you so much! my fair is in three months, and i’m hoping to go to a show at a local cattleman’s association that’s coming up soon, but my mentor is a member, so she has to set that up if that’s the plan. so that one’s still up in the air.
what do you raise?!

Lucy · May 6, 2026

Cattlegirl19 said:
that would be amazing, thank you so much! my fair is in three months, and i’m hoping to go to a show at a local cattleman’s association that’s coming up soon, but my mentor is a member, so she has to set that up if that’s the plan. so that one’s still up in the air.
what do you raise?!

Ooo sounds fun!
All our cattle are Angus cross, their sire is angus and their dams are mostly angus x murray grey. We also have a couple speckle parks and we’ve just bought a few shorthorns too.
My two steers are an Angus x and a fleckvieh that we were given as a part of a competition for next weeks show

What breed is yours?

Cattlegirl19 · May 6, 2026

oh that’s awesome! my family herd is all angus, but i raise charolais, jerseys, and i recently bought one of my parents’ angus cows! how long have you and your family been farming??

Lucy · May 7, 2026

Cattlegirl19 said:
oh that’s awesome! my family herd is all angus, but i raise charolais, jerseys, and i recently bought one of my parents’ angus cows! how long have you and your family been farming??

I show with my school, i wish i could have my own cattle!
I’ve been showing with my school for 5 years now and i graduate soon so i need to find someone to show with after school. I think if i get a chance at the show next week i’m gonna go and talk to some people but I’ll probably end up having a break from showing until i can get my own cattle

Cattlegirl19 · May 7, 2026

oh cool! you’ve been at it for a while then haha! awe well i hope you can make some connections at your upcoming show and keep on showing!

Lucy · May 9, 2026

Cattlegirl19 said:
oh cool! you’ve been at it for a while then haha! awe well i hope you can make some connections at your upcoming show and keep on showing!

Thanks!! I was there yesterday helping the committee set up panels for the show and they’ve offered for me to come and see how they organise everything and mark the judging which will be really cool!!

vc · May 11, 2026

Not getting the animal set up fast enough (this is something you should work on at home)

Pulling the animal out to reset just as the judge gets to you

Be smooth with the stick you should not look like you are trying to saw them in half

Pay attention, move when they ask, listen to instructions

Use the whole ring do not cut corners

Leave a gap between you and the animal ahead or next to you, but not a huge gap.

Know what you are feeding, percentages of protein and fat, know your animal’s weight, age, breed, know what your animals strengths and weaknesses are.

Some want intensity some want relaxed and others something in between, It is best to watch other classes and see what they like and do not like,

Cattlegirl19 · May 13, 2026

thank you so much! i will definitely work on ALL of those!

Cattlegirl19 · May 13, 2026

oh awesome! that sounds like a great opportunity to get your foot in the door for your next step!

Lucy · May 14, 2026

Cattlegirl19 said:
oh awesome! that sounds like a great opportunity to get your foot in the door for your next step!

The main thing i noticed with this judge is that she asked everyone about their animal, until we started running late and they sped up the heats a bit.
Another thing of note which u may already be doing is getting your steer used to loud and sudden noises. A speaker started playing music really loud and it spooked my steer and he dragged the girl leading him across the ring

Cattlegirl19 · May 18, 2026

good to know, thank you! how did you wind up placing?!

Lucy · May 20, 2026

I didn’t end up placing but a few of my teammates and my friend and her sister got into the finals for their age groups

Cattlegirl19 · May 22, 2026

oh good! sorry you didn’t place but it sounds like it was a good time!

showmanship judging

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