4H FFA beef show for the rich

Our local co. fair is run by a great group of volunteers. The beef show has become a battle of the well to do. The families on a bugget do not have chance to place very high.  A lot of them have dropped out. At one time most of the the showman bought a calf for a little over market top and worked on his own calf. Their goal was to learn about cattle, make new friends,make a little money and do the best they could in the show ring. Now big bucks are spent on calves,I saw one dad get out 4 bags of $50 dollar feed to feed their calves. Tons of money are spent on supplies and equipment.Some families have full time fitters work their cattle all summer and exspensive cooler rooms. People are free to spend their money as they like. Are we teaching the right thing? Is spending $25,000 to win a $25 trophy a smart thin to do? Don't get me wrong I have some great friends in the cattle business ,love cattle enjoy seeing kids learn in the show ring. Some years my child has done well showing. We may do a pen of three next yr. to get away from the negatives of show ring . I am also suggesting a slick steer show. Is it he the same in other areas?

We have a commercial class that is no fit. If the head is even clipped, you show in the fitted class. Works well for lower budget or kids that do not want to spend the time working hair.

I never had very much money more did my family, I always worked very hard and spent every dime to my name on my show calves. I won grand many many times in a very competitive show. It's not necessarily the amount of money you have, it's the amount of passion you have for the sport. I've never owned a grooming chute instead I spent that money on calves. I never had a cool room yet I had the fluffiest calves. It's all about the time and effort you put into your project.
  Also you can get a show steer for around 1200 that's about what the market is at for calves right now. Just because some one has more money Than you doesn't mean you have to be jelouse or mad because they can waste it on there hobby. I've always been the go big or go home type...but that's just me

There are a couple fairs in our area that have done a good job at dealing with this. Ours has a steer program where a group of similar steers, usually Angus, are pulled together at just above market price. The kids are selected at random order and have to go select their steer from the group without any assistance. Some will do more with them once they get them home, but this keeps the front end cost down and the field pretty even. We still have the normal 4H market steer show as well.