Sportsmanship isn't Just for Sports

Someone once told me , “Raising show stock isn’t always the best way to raise livestock, but it is a great way to raise your kids.”

With spring progress shows and county fair season approaching, animals being groomed daily and feed rations being perfected to get the perfect condition on your show stock, I think we need to take a step back and remember one of the truly important things to teach our youth at livestock shows: good sportsmanship.

Whether you show only at your county fair or at big shows like the National Western, the rules of show ring etiquette are the same across the board. 

Share these simple rules of show ring sportsmanship with your fellow showmen, their parents and club leaders. It never hurts anyone to have a refresher course on what 4-H, FFA and junior cattle associations are really all about: GREAT KIDS and GREAT LIVESTOCK!

S – Shake Hands

I don’t care if you were tenth out of ten, or first out of fifty, shake hands with the judge after the show. Thank them for their time. If they gave you good tips on showmanship, animal selection, or any other advice, thank them for that too.

Shake hands with the winner. We have all been to a show; there is ONE overall champion and ONE reserve champion selected. Congratulate them on their big win even if they aren’t your best buddies. Part of healthy competition is accepting that you might not always be the winner and being humble about your victory when you are.

On the opposite side, if you have had a good show and finish on top, congratulate others on their accomplishments as well.  Take the time to tell a class winner you liked their animal, or that they did a great job in showmanship. Good feedback can be very motivating; especially if you are an older, more experienced showman telling a first-year junior they did a nice job.

One of the important hands that you need to shake – that often goes overlooked – is the person or committee that organized and hosted the show. The behind-the-scenes work that goes into an event like that takes weeks upon weeks to put together. Make sure you thank them before you leave, or even better, when you get there!

H – Help Your Neighbor

When the steer in front of you puts on his brakes and won’t move forward, reach ahead, twist his tail and get the train of cattle back on its tracks. Not only will the showman with the stuck steer appreciate your help, but also the judge will see your courtesy in the show ring and it could bump you up a ribbon placing in showmanship.

Help your neighbors in the barn too. Clean walkways, stalls and having no equipment obstacle courses are so important when fair-goers walk through the barns to view the livestock. If you see an animal “relieve themself” in the walkway, get off your lawn chair, grab a scoop and take care of it. It doesn’t matter who is on the end of the halter, take a second out of your game of Candy Crush and help them out. They likely will return the favor.

O – Own Your Actions IN and OUT of the Show Ring

Ownership of actions may be the most important rule in this guide and may also be the hardest for some to digest. This applies to parents, showmen and spectators alike. There is so much emotion at livestock shows that gets misread because of the actions people take or reactions it causes people to have.

Maybe you thought your hog should have placed higher than the one that won your class. It’s okay to be disappointed, but pitching a fit is not going to change the judge’s opinion or the show results. All it is going to do is make you look like a poor sport.

The same goes for someone that won the whole show – it’s okay to celebrate your hard work paying off. Accept the congratulatory remarks from other showmen, their parents and spectators, you have done well, but make sure you are humble about it.

Your actions reflect on you, your family and even your 4-H club, FFA chapter and state association. Make your people proud regardless of ribbon color – own your actions!

W- Work Hard BEFORE the show - not only AFTER you have arrived.

Nothing is harder to deal with in showmanship or day-to-day in the barns than unruly critters. If you put in your time, daily, at home, your heifer or steer won’t be the one in the barns knocking over fans and running all over you during showmanship. Now, I won’t say I never had a super tame animal at home that got to a show and to say the least “FREAKED OUT.”…..But, 9 times out of 10, the time you put in at home with that animal rinsing, blowing and practicing showmanship will pay off at the fair.

M – Market Yourself and Your Animal as a Package Deal

In showmanship – the judge is looking at YOU and how YOU prepared your animal for the show. In a breeding or market class – the judge is looking at the quality of the animal. However, this doesn’t mean your showmanship style should be different. The woman that taught me the most about showing livestock once told me, “Show like every class is showmanship.” Meaning: present the animal and its best features every time you are in the ring and the rest is easy.  

A –Accept the Judge’s Opinion on Show Day

As I said before, not everyone is going to walk away with a trophy on show day – this isn’t Mutton Bustin’. Listen to the judge throughout the day and the reasons he gives after placing each class. Listening to the judge is ESPECIALLY important in showmanship. He may give you tips to present your animal better the next time you come into the ring for market or breeding class.

While you may not agree with everything the judge does – very seldom does everyone agree on ALL of a judge’s selections, but be courteous, they were hired to judge that show and you need to let them do their job.

Remember that on another day with another judge, the results may have had a different outcome. But this is not another day and the judge is not someone else. His or her opinion is the one that matters in the ring that day – accept their choices and congratulate the winners. If you have done your part to make your animal presentable and well behaved in the ring, you still get to chalk up a personal “win” for yourself in my book.

This is an important rule for parents to remember too.  Your actions after the Champion is selected are just as important as your kids’. Congratulate the winner  - whether it is a class winner or the Overall Grand – and keep encouraging your kids and the other showmen to work hard in and out of the show ring. A pat on the back never hurt anyone.

N – Nice Guys Don’t Always Finish Last

The people you meet and the friends you make will be one of the most important souvenirs of your showing career. In fact, they will become part of your “stock show family.”

Remember to be NICE – trust me, it won’t kill you. When you see a young showman stuggling or maybe that needs a good tip on hair training, setting up their animal or even as simple as getting their number in their harness, help them!

Juniors look up to the seniors. Be a good role model, be mindful of your actions and remember to have a good time.

If you have been given the opportunity to show livestock, you are privileged. Use that privilege to be a good showman, a good friend and to be a good sport in and out of the show ring.

To the parents out there making sacrifices so that your kids can show livestock - thank you. After all, it may not be the best way to raise livestock, but it is definitely a great way to raise your kids.