4-H shows...what's it all about??

[dkdairygoats]

I showed market steers in 4-H for ten years. We had good judges, and bad judges, and some that just did all right. But the last few years I've been watching them, it seems like all these judges care about is how well the animal was fitted out.

For example, choosing a Grand Champion that weighs 1,080 lbs over a gorgeous cross steer that was 1,300 lbs. The little calf was teased, sprayed and polished, and the bigger steer was brushed down smooth, obviously because most of these kids don't know how to fit calves out yet. Looking at both animals back in the barns, the little steer had some structural problems as well.

I am not a sore loser. I knew no one at this fair, and just went to watch. My dad has been working in a slaughter house for 30 years. He knows what kind of carcass the beef industry wants. He also said the same thing. Are we looking for a pretty calf or a functional one?

I have seen this happen many, many times. Just curious what everyone else thinks about this issue.

[Carrie C]

I don't know about in Michigan, but in Washington, we have 2 separate contests: Fitting and Showing (or Showmanship) and Type.
Fitting and Showing judges the kid on how well they prepared the the animal for show, and they do not judge the structure of the animal at all. So, the kid with a so-so animal can win over a kid with a great animal. The fitting and showing classes are divided by age.
Type is where the judge critiques the animals based solely on the animal itself, not even considering the exhibitor.
That's how things are supposed to work here.
~Carrie C.

[JeffNY]

The same thing happens in the dairy segment. There are those who look good in the ring, and there are those that classify well, but do not enter the ring, but are very fuctional at home. There are many in a lineup at a show that place 5th to 10th, that could be more fuctional than those placed in the top 5. Some of these animals could be classified in the 85-89 pt range as a 2yr old, that may not place above 3rd, instead are stuck at 5th. Yet the one in 1st might only be a 83pt cow, but looks good to the judge. Remember, it is one persons opinion, it is impossible to base a decision off of one person. What matters most is your wallet, and someones opinion outside of the ring. I find it funny how these people locally get reserve grand, and grand. Then they go to a big show and place 5th. They don't understand, the caliber that is needed, yet what really counts is how she does in the barn.


Jeff

[Tractorgrl]

When I was in 4-H not too long ago (in NY) it was just like Carrie C. said. There were classes in fitting in showmanship which judged how well the exhibitor fitted their animal and how well they were able to handle their animal in the ring. The type classes were where they looked at the structure of the animal. Fitting and showmanship was judging more the exhibitor, type was judging more the animal.

[mamagoose]

This probably sounds harsh, but for beef cattle, I think in the market classes they should all be slicked down right from the wash rack and just *squeegeed*. It would just be easier for a judge. He/she should still feel the animal if they are doing a thorough evaluation. If the kids want to make them look all pretty for showmanship or pics, then ok. Judges here are good about judging the animal for cleanliness (and not fuzziness) and the kids' abilities to show the animal to their best potential in showmanship.

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

There's showmanship and breed classes here too. I'm not a great cattle judge, but i've been working on it, and most of the judges make their decisions on the quality of the steer, lamb, rabbit, etc...

But you always get a few who seem more concerned with who owns the animal or how "pretty" it is than it's merits.