Judging a County Fair Heifer Show off BREED...fair, or not????

[LoVeShOrThOrNs]

At my county fair this year (the heifer show), the judge told me when I talked to him after the show that he did not place my heifer higher, because he did not like the SHORTHORN breed! I was pretty peeved at this comment as I believe at a COUNTY FAIR you need to judge by the quality of the heifer, NOT the breed! Please tell me what you think....

 

[OH Breeder]

Actually the heifers should be evaluated according to their breed standard. When you have selected what represents the best of each breed then you look for what female most represents an ideal female. No matter what breed and ideal female should look the same. I know this sounds crazy.
It was an unfair statement for the person to make. Doesn't sound like he had much professionalism at all.

 

[LoVeShOrThOrNs]

I understand you need to judge by the breed standard, but when it comes down to an Angus heifer that has very poor structure and was extremely coarse fronted, and a shorthorn heifer, whom obviously is not perfect but can at least walk and is smooth fronted with a terrific profile. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me....I may sound like I am being a selfish, but I have shown cattle for 8 years now and I have NEVER seen a show judged so poorly in all of my showing years. And I've shown all over the country at many, many shows.

 

[OLD WORLD SHORTIE]

post a picture of your heifer and well let you know if he placed her right. if the judge actually said he doesnt like the shorthorn breed, then i wouldnt put to much weight on his opinion. most county shows are what i call "bush league" and usually get that good of judges any how. at least the ones who bring out some ag teacher who took 6 hours of animal science in jr. college.

 

[LoVeShOrThOrNs]

I don't currently have a picture of her, but if it helps any, her mom won the Colorado State Fair Shorthorn show one year and came back the next and won reserve shorthorn heifer as a cow/calf pair, she also won many jackpot shows around the state, and also won county fair 2 years in a row (same years as state fair). And the sire, is SS Deadwood, not sure if you are famaliar with him or not??

 

[OLD WORLD SHORTIE]

was her mom solid white

 

[LoVeShOrThOrNs]

Yessir she was/is

 

[LoVeShOrThOrNs]

Her mom is out of High Roller and I don't remember from the top of my head who HER mother is out of.

 

[OLD WORLD SHORTIE]

i for some reason have a vivid mental image of that cow. Sometimes they just get stuck in my head and are there to stay. well i hope you heifer does as well as her moma, good luck with those crazy judges.

 

[iowabeef]

Basically this is the"joy" of a county show.  We have all been there.  There are more stories of good ones getting rolled at county shows than we could count.  That is why I we always go to a number of shows during the season.  Sometimes you are the choice and many times you are not.  Best not to put one's hope all in one show....

 

[Telos]

That says it all. A judge who admits not liking a specific breed is not really a judge of beef cattle. Period.

Wrong  show. Bad judge. Next show.

 

[CAB]

  I agree in most part to all of the discussions above, but on the other hand, when I am asked to evaluate cattle or a calf for someone, it seems that most PPL have a hard time being real about their cattle. I can always find something that I would change about an animal. The judge should not have said what he did about not liking SH's in general, rather he should spoke directly about your individual. What were his comments about her in the class placings? We have in the past had the same judge place a cow/calf pair GC overall and the next year placed the cow and her next calf dead last in class saying that the input would be too high. That's good old county fair fun. There are many great cows themselves as far as show careers go, that never produce even a good one. Not saying that your's wasn't a good one. JMO.

 

[forbes family farms]

If a judge is going to judge a fair, he needs to know the good qualites between each breed and which calf resembles the best traits of that breed. I don't blame ya for being upset i would be very upset to, i can't believe a judge would do that.

 

[shortyjock89]

The best way to get a good one beat is taking it to the county fair. We've had heifers get 3rd or 4th at county and win their class at state. It sucks, but it happens.

 

[SSIMMENTALS]

I know you were ready to smack him on the head with your showstick.  ;D But we've all been there. You just have to be a good sport about it, rant and rave to yourself for a few days, and then let it go. There are some really interesting individuals out there and as many have stated, the best place to find them is at a county show. Just keep up your confidence and work hard for the next shows. If your heifer is really good, she will have her day at a much bigger and more widely known event.

 

[Jacob B]

I think this is exactly why so many of your county fairs never see the REALy good females out because of those kind of judges.  You just never know what you are going to get at a county fair.  Not many people will sort a county fair that can realy do a good job it seems.  The good judges are often too expensive, and just don't want to take the time to do a little county fair.  Too bad.  I guess I am fortunate to have a good source of friends that will do me a favor to come out and do our county fair.

 

[LoVeShOrThOrNs]

Eh I guess it just really upset me because it was my last county fair, and if anything it was shocking not only to me but others as well. I am over it but if I think about it I'm mostly just like what the heck was he thinking! Different judge different day different show, we will live  ;D

 

[lightnin4]

You gotta LOVE county fair shows!!  I always tell young people just starting out that if they have something they don't want beat, don't take it to a county fair.  I saw the GC bull from the Natl. Jr. Angus Show get beat in class at a county fair one year.  Another year I went to 4 county shows and had a heifer that was placed last in class in the first show, RC in the second, GC in the 3rd, and last in class in the 4th(all within 2 weeks).  Inconsistancy at its best!

 

[box6rranch]

Oh man, I wonder if 4-H offices send the results of the carcass contest to the judges???? I would love for our wonderful judge to also know that his grand champ pick came in the bottom 1/3 of carcass judging and graded select!!!! And the reserve only placed three above that. Geez.........I know I'd rather have a feed lot owner or foreman judge our contest any day of the week.

 

[SFASUshowman]

Oh man, I wonder if 4-H offices send the results of the carcass contest to the judges???? I would love for our wonderful judge to also know that his grand champ pick came in the bottom 1/3 of carcass judging and graded select!!!! And the reserve only placed three above that. Geez.........I know I'd rather have a feed lot owner or foreman judge our contest any day of the week.

Remember that show day appraisal is pretty much just visual and as judges we cant ever be sure what is actually under the hide until it comes off....u have to remember that grading is based mostly off of marbling...and the best fat guess we get is cover, which doesnt always equal marbling....if you truly go back and look at all show results and how the steers actually pack out, you would see that a lof times the Champs and Reserves arent the best carcasses when hung on the rail...but the judge cant know that unless we killed em in the ring.
As far as this judge saying he didnt like SH's, that was very unprofessional...now I havent seen the animals in the line up so I cant say what happened....but we judge each breed based on its breed charecteristics...and I have found many times when I get to the champion drive that many of the animals represent their breeds exceptionally well...then it becomes a matter of my preference in type of aanimal...I always say EVERYTIME I juddge a show...that is is my opinion on that day....take the exact same group of animals to a different judge in 20 minutes and get a completely different result...doesnt mean we dont know what e are doing...means we just have different tastes.
But his comment was a little untateful.