County-bred restricted shows?

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DLD

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 15, 2007
Messages
1,539
Location
sw Oklahoma
We just have a county bred class along with our regular steer show.  I think it's good to recognize those cattle (and exhibitors and breeders), but I fully agree that I wouldn't want to see the whole show limited that way, even though we are one of only 3 or 4 families that often show what we raise.  It's tough enough to be competitive on a limited budget without restricting where you can buy them, and buying them in our county prob'ly wouldn't save most most kids any money, 'cause we produce more than our share of high dollar ones here. The lottery thing is trying to eliminate competition anyway - fortunately I don't believe it'd ever be seriously considered here.

One thing I do like is that our neighboring county has a bred and owned show (along with their regular show), where the animal has to have been bred and raised by the exhibitor themself. I know bred and owned classes are common at bigger heifer shows, but this is the only one I know of on a county level or that includes steers.  It does encourage those kids to try harder to raise a good one, and offers some incentive for them to show something they've raised (as opposed to buying one).  I really like the idea of recognizing that accomplishment - it's more important than just being county bred, IMO.
 

vc

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Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
1,834
Location
So-Cal
County bred is one thing, you can go out, sift through the animals and find a good one. When they bring a truck load and you draw a number that is where luck can beat out knowledge, as well as take out some of the pride in your project.

Our fair has considered several ways to "even the playing field" in the steer shows. Soccor mom mentality everyone is a winner. You win at our fair if you get a blue ribbon and go onto the sale, how you place is at the fair is where selection feeding, grooming and showmanship is rewarded.

I am sure there is a reason for preselected steers is to take out the rule bending, I can think of several ways to beat the system for county bred, ranch can import steers, run them through the sale yard with other calves and give a heads up to the prearranged buyer when the calf will go to the sale, I can also see the commercial Angus herd with several Shorthorn, Char,  red baldies, or big butted horned black calves at their side

Our state has a state bred class, the calves are registered,DNA samples are sent in from the calf and the mother, The kids can show show at some of the bigger Jackpots and and state fair, Jackpots pay out 500 to the winner and the state fair pays out 1500 to the winner, the state fair pays both the 4H and FFA winners. Nice little competition that helps keep the kids local.

If you go to these measures it is no longer a show, it is now a meat production competition, so just call it that.
 

GoWyo

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Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
1,691
Location
Wyoming
Our county bred and fed show is basically a separate show right before the regular market beef show.  The announcer introduces each showman when the calves are led into the ring and the producer has the opportunity to be present and be recognized as the breeder of the calf.  It is really neat when the showman and the breeder are the same kid.  The winner receives some nice prizes, including $250 in prize money, so it is a nice part of the show and gives the kids and the breeders some extra recognition.
 

vc

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Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
1,834
Location
So-Cal
We have it for beef, swine, veal, goats, and lambs. The Bred and fed class if after market on the same day, (you show your animal in market as well) I have some gripes about the format but that is a different story.
My boys won it with pigs we raised one year $300 and $200 for 1st and 2nd.

Our bred and fed  has 4 different criteria they judge, A questionnaire the kids fill out, an add or flier for the breeder the kids create , showmanship and then the actual animal.I think it should just be the animal myself, since they already compete with all the kids in showmanship. The breeder of the winning animal also gets a plack from the fair.
 

#1 showman

Active member
Joined
Dec 11, 2010
Messages
35
I believe that the preselected steers and lottery style is unfair and unamerican. It completely takes away from capitalism and free trade. At our fair we have had many big showmen and women come through, and I have seen kids that are not able to compete with the big fancy steers. In capitalism the weakest buisnesses that can not compete fall behind and close or change. In these shows it makes the kids with not as good calves work harder.If a kid is tired of disappointment and failure they will try harder whether it is better care for their calf or they will get a job to buy a better calf that can compete. I have seen kids at our shows that dont break or wash their calf until a week before a show and you can tell and how can a person expect to do better than someone who has been working with their calves all along. If the kids are content than thats fine but if the kids are not then they are going to do something about and thats what capitalism is all about. The kids that have high dollar steers dont let those calves sit in poop all day they are washing and leading and taking them to jackpot shows and in my opinion they deserve to be successful because they have done the work. At our county we don't have a bred and fed class but we have classes for steers and heifers for kids that show a calf shortly after it was born (cow-calf or produce of dam) it recognizes kids that have had that calf and been working with it for over a year. In the fact that there are shows where only calves that are born in that county are allowed to compete is unfair and i believe that if the people of that county dont believe in that then they should stand up and say that it is not right and unfair because its not. JMHO
 

vc

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Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
1,834
Location
So-Cal
This is my perspective on the whole thing, Part of it are like your government.

Years ago the steers showmen at county fairs were by and large local calves, as exhibitors got more competitive they started going out of the area to find better calves. As the calves got better and more competitive and you had to go farther to find the better ones (steer jocks were born) they found the better calves from all over the country. These calves sold for more because of the time and money spent on finding and transporting them.
As breeders became aware of the demand for certain type cattle they started breeding for that type, since they could make a little more for them, (the birth of club calf breeders)

Now since Family A is going out and paying more for calves, families B, C, and D become jealous and started complaining that this is not fair (even though we are all told it is about the experience and knowledge they gain from these projects, not about winning) All along the family A working harder at finding better cattle, grooming techniques, feeding different and better feeds, staying on top off all the new trends and supplements to get their good cattle looking great at that right moment. Family B is trying to learn what Family A is doing and step up their program, C and D still just complain, buy the cheapest calves they can find and feed them the cheapest feed they can.

Now the government part: to make it fair or my favorite “An Even Playing field” fair boards decided it would be best for all if they make it County Bred only, this could work in some counties, not the one I live in, not enough cattle and not to many that raise cattle that would go through the work of letting you sort through them, 90% percent wean on the trailer.

Now the bottom line is the kids that were winning still will be at the top they will spend the money on feed, supplements, rinse and groom, breed their own or work with a local ranch to breed some cows different to get those club calf types. The same families are winning. So the fair board will still be bi#&#ed  at and will decide that they will select the calves and use a lottery system to make it more fair. . The classes will be closer but the cream will still rise to the top because of feeding and grooming. The board is still getting an ear full so now  they all will use feed X from feed mill Z. By now the families that were losing are happy the families that were winning have decided to show goats and only show at state since this is ridiculous.
 

kattleluver

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Joined
Nov 9, 2010
Messages
72
Location
OHIO
Our county does a born & raised show the evening before the beef show. Our county association puts the show on and kids get t shirts that say born & raised with the year. They are shown by hip height. In the beef show all steers can show county born & raised or not. I think it's nice cause kids who breed their own or buy from our county producer's get an extra chance to show and we can showcase what is from our county, but any calf can be shown in the regular show. Grand and reserve go through the auction as their respective county champions.  But that is how we do it...
 
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