''Good Showmanship Questions''

[rackranch]

There seems to be a lot of folks around the country having county fairs right now and others that are just out jack potting trying to perfrect their skills and get the cattle in the showring.  As we already know, showmanship means as much to the kidos as anything.  So I wanted to start a thread of possible showmanship questions.  I feel like once you get down to the top two or three the showman with the best answers will get the nod.  You can apply most of these questions to different species as well.

Here are a few:

First, know all the parts of your animal

Daily feed in take of your calf

Daily water intake of your calf

Typical feed conversion for a calf

Percent protien, corn, or fat contained in the feed

How much does you calf weigh

What is the birthdate of you heifer

What is the gestation period of a heifer

If you could change one thing about your calf what would it be

How many stomachs does you calf have

For begginers I would recommend making some index cards to study before you go into the showmanship ring.

Any Others....................

 

[OLD WORLD SHORTIE]

hows about who has been taking care of your calf for you jk
1. how would you change your project?

2. what is most essential for growing bone and muscle.

3. when and to what are you going to breed you heifer. why did you choose this paticular sire.

4. what do you use in your daily care of your project.

 

[Dozer45]

Here are some from this year as well as other that were make it or break it questions.

* When do we want heifers to have their first calf
* Who produced your animal/ who is it out of
* Do you see any problems in the (insert animal) industry, if so how would you fix it
* As a young producer, how can you impacet the industry
*KNOW DISEASES!!!

Thanks Rachranch, I think this is a really good thread I am always looking for new questions to study

 

[rtmcc]

Questions are for Quiz Bowl,  Showmanship is for showing.  I know some people like to ask questions in showmanship but when there is 15 or 20 kids in a class it can really stretch out the affair.  I understand they need to know about their project but if we are looking to see who is the most knowledgeable have a quiz bowl or written test.  If we want to see who is the best at exhibiting their livestock and getting the most out of them then let them show.

Just my opinion.

Ron
<cowboy>

 

[rackranch]

In the case where there are 20 kids in a class the jugde doesn't need to ask all of them questions... cull them down and when he you get  to the top five or so is when you want to ask similar questions from them to compare responses and knowledge... you may not like it but it is a very important part of showmanship...

Questions are for Quiz Bowl,  Showmanship is for showing.  I know some people like to ask questions in showmanship but when there is 15 or 20 kids in a class it can really stretch out the affair.  I understand they need to know about their project but if we are looking to see who is the most knowledgeable have a quiz bowl or written test.  If we want to see who is the best at exhibiting their livestock and getting the most out of them then let them show.

Just my opinion.

Ron
<cowboy>

 

[SouthWest]

What is the current market price of cattle?  The cash price
Where is the rib eye measured at?
What is the single most factor that has influenced the beef industry this past year?
What does KPH stand for?
Name the top 3 quality grades on a carcass?
Who grades the carcasses in the US?
What does ADG stand for when measuring cattle efficiency?  What was your steers?
What is drug withdrawl?
What does PETA or HSUS stand for and who are they?
What is animal welfare?

 

[OLD WORLD SHORTIE]

maybe for meats judging, i dont think some of those are relevent to showmanship. But maybe they are, if i had a kid lose a class because he didnt know how to grade out a carcass i would be pist.

 

[SouthWest]

These are questions that I practiice with my daughter and have been asked to her at some point in time.  I will agree the tend to be more of a 'senior' division question.  These are also for kids that are showing market steers not heifers.  I believe questions should be asked about the beef industry.  The beef industry does not stop when it crosses the scale anymore.  With the majority of cattle traded in the US being based on a grid, they should know how they will be paid someday.  The beef industry should go out as far as to the plate.  Where does the rib eye come from?  My daughter was even asked about her opinion on corn based ethanol.  The feed products are also part of our industry.  As I stated, I will agree there is a huge difference between junior, intermediate, and senior questions as also steer vs. heifers.

 

[oakie]

How many steers are born each year in your county

 

[forbes family farms]

The pedigree of your heifer or steer.

 

[Bradenh]

big questions that cost many many kids the showmanship buckles...... how old is your heifer? and when is your heifer born?.. people often think that is asking the same thing but alot of judges use those questions to see how well the kid is paying attention.......how old is she is asking for a number of months old she is.....when is she born is asking for the exibitor to name a specific date

 

[SSIMMENTALS]

What is the best thing about your heifer/steer?
What are the main things  you try to accomplish when showing this particular animal?
What is the length of the  estrous cycle?

 

[DLD]

Questions are for Quiz Bowl,  Showmanship is for showing.  I know some people like to ask questions in showmanship but when there is 15 or 20 kids in a class it can really stretch out the affair.  I understand they need to know about their project but if we are looking to see who is the most knowledgeable have a quiz bowl or written test.  If we want to see who is the best at exhibiting their livestock and getting the most out of them then let them show.

Just my opinion.

Ron
<cowboy>

Exactly right.  A whole lot of the people judging shows can't even answer alot of those questions off the top of their heads.  When I judge I want my showmanship winner to be the one I'd choose to stick my cattle when it's about the cattle, not the one that can win the quiz bowl.  Sometimes they're the same kid, sometimes they're not.  They need to know the birthdate/age of their heifer, if she's bred and if so when she's due, the weight of their steer and when they're shooting for him to be finished - all questions that can be pertinent to the cattles placing in the actual show - if it's not a question that a judge would ask in placing a class, why should it be necessary for showmanship?

I agree that knowledge of the industry is important and should be encouraged and rewarded, but being able to answer questions beyond those pertaining directly to the animal they're showing is not relevant to doing a good job of presenting that animal in the showring. 

I know that the extensive questions are pretty well accepted as just part of showmanship contests these days, but it's a shame that it often leaves some of the most truly skilled showmen behind just because they aren't good at answering questions.

 

[Dozer45]

Questions are for Quiz Bowl,  Showmanship is for showing.  I know some people like to ask questions in showmanship but when there is 15 or 20 kids in a class it can really stretch out the affair.  I understand they need to know about their project but if we are looking to see who is the most knowledgeable have a quiz bowl or written test.  If we want to see who is the best at exhibiting their livestock and getting the most out of them then let them show.

Just my opinion.

Ron
<cowboy>

Exactly right.  A whole lot of the people judging shows can't even answer alot of those questions off the top of their heads.  When I judge I want my showmanship winner to be the one I'd choose to stick my cattle when it's about the cattle, not the one that can win the quiz bowl.  Sometimes they're the same kid, sometimes they're not.  They need to know the birthdate/age of their heifer, if she's bred and if so when she's due, the weight of their steer and when they're shooting for him to be finished - all questions that can be pertinent to the cattles placing in the actual show - if it's not a question that a judge would ask in placing a class, why should it be necessary for showmanship?

I agree that knowledge of the industry is important and should be encouraged and rewarded, but being able to answer questions beyond those pertaining directly to the animal they're showing is not relevant to doing a good job of presenting that animal in the showring. 

I know that the extensive questions are pretty well accepted as just part of showmanship contests these days, but it's a shame that it often leaves some of the most truly skilled showmen behind just because they aren't good at answering questions.

Compleatly disagree. I do see the point you are making and you do want a good showman that knows how to take an animal in the ring and make it look good but I also believe that young showman need to have a clue about the "real"cattle industry, not just the show part. I dont believe that a judge should go just off of questions but it should atleast be a factor. If im going to hire someone to work with my cattle I want someone that at least has a clue about the industry.

 

[forbes family farms]

I agree with Dozer45 i would like someone who knows about the "real" cattle industry, and questions like some of these should be asked, and should play a 50% part in showmanship, and the other 50% should be on actual showing.

 

[kanshow]

I'm all for asking them pertinant questions.. but when the judge says, I used the questions to make up my mind, how are we, the audience, to know if that judge is just blowing smoke so he can put up his friend's kids?

 

[oakie]

our judge asked to ffa kids to tell him what is wrong/ or could be changed  with/about the cattle industry today.

 

[vc]

We have had the judge ask the top five what they think could be done to improve the image of the beef industry to the public, they had to answer this on the microphone.

Best question "How many steers are born in the USA each year?"

 

[Jeferin]

How many steers are born each year in your county

ZERO

 

[oakie]

you would be shocked how many kids get that wrong,
also, what is the gestation length on your steer?