''Good Showmanship Questions''

I love showmanship and  consider it a competitive sport but showmanship is strictly about the art of showing cattle. Period.

A quiz test should be taken in a classroom and not have anything to do with showmanship. DLD said it best IMO.

I think this is a great debate. After having the great honor of judging showmanship with my much better half at the Limi Jr. National this summer, I think interaction with the judge is more important than specific questions. We talked to the top 10 showman with more the idea that they needed to be confident professionals more than wizards of animal science. I do have a big problem with asking questions like the "how many steers.....", when kids are focused and in the show zone they don't need tricked. I found it to be a great personal experience to interact with the next generation of our industry, and they all did well with the questions, which made little difference to the outcome. I would suggest that you know the basic common sence knowledge about your calf and project, if the official gets to indepth or off the wall just show hard and try, it always pays off in the long run!

yep, i agree with stumpy.

most people running showmanship, should worry about how their cattle look anyways. Most of them cant make a run a the purple on showmanship alone. Cause if they cant beat the cattle, they might as well try to beat the show man.

In the senior division, The judge asked the same question of each exhibitor in his first round of sifting this year, "Do you believe that your animal has reached his full potential at this point, if not where is it lacking"

After he sorted down to the final three he had each exhibitor change animals and exhibit them, then he took the animals one at a time and had the boys (Yes for the first time in I do not know how long the final three were all boys) what they either liked or disliked about that particular animal.

The deciding factor for the winner was not determined by the questions, it was on how they actually exhibited the others animal.

Round Robin is where they get sideways with the questions but that is another topic.

What two types of feed are there?
What is the difference between a grower and a finisher?
What is the normal respiration rate for a cow?
What is the normal temperature of a cow?

Know about carcass traits.

Dont let your animals front stand in a hole.
Dont let someone else circle and hide your animal from the judge.
Know the proper feet placement on side view and side by side.
Know what speed your animal walks best at.
Keep the head up.
Be courteous to your fellow showman but dont let them distract you.
Those are some showmanship tips. The questions are not part of it.

I'm siding with the "no questions" group.  As I have never owned more than 12 cows at a time, and don't have any formal Ag education, I haven't had the opportunity to judge many shows.  When I do, I like to give "Showmanship, Feed & Grooming Pointers"  during the classes.  I also ask quite a few questions, although most aren't cattle related.  It just helps everyone relax, which makes Judging a whole lot easier.  When it comes to Showmanship, no matter what age or division you want to address, Showmanship is ALWAYS won at home!  Any Judge worth his pay has his top Showman sorted during classes, and can tell easily which have done their homework.  If the top four or five are too close, having them exchange calves will bring the Cream to the top. There is no need for questions.  Much better to pay attention to frostback's tips.  I have one more to add:  When turning your calf, always push, don't pull.
 

This weekend at the TJLA showmanship show the heifer judge was pretty basic with his questions until he got to the SR's and he asked them what are the major birth defects affecting show calves at this time and what breeds carry them.  The steer judge asked the INT. a pretty standard question about average daily gain expected for a steer but went a little deeper with the SR's and asked them what are the problems they feel the beef industry will face in the next 20 years.  When talking his reasons he stated that he had asked the question and admitted there is no right or wrong answer but he was just looking at how each of the top showman would respond.  One question to the top 4 or 5 only......