Help!! Newbies here!

This is our first go around with steers. My son is 9 and is showing an angus steer. We bought him back in April and so far we've just been listening to people at the barn which usually gives us about 10 different opinions all the time, lol. We show in about a month and a half my question is what should we be doing at this point?? My son doesn't even know how to set one up in the show ring. No one has really offered up any showing advice, just feeding and grooming advice. Any suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated. I don't want it to come down to show day and we be completely clueless. Thanks in advance!

You could start by taking a few minutes to search around on here for showmanship hints. I know that there was a video from the American Angus Association posted on here that would be a helpful one to watch.

Do you have time to visit a show, watch the older kids and get a feel for what they are doing? That is always a great place to start.

Breed associations have resources and so do some universities. Mind you, everyone has different opinions, but that is why we live in America.
Here are a couple links:
http://livestock.colostate.edu/youth/documents/Beef/BeefCattleShowmanship.pdf
http://www.thejudgingconnection.com/pdfs/647_Beef%20Cattle%20Showmanship%20by%20Paul%20Maulsby.pdf
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/animal/4hyouth/beef/beefshow.htm

As long as he takes it slow, works at home and wears the right attire, he should be fine. Plenty of time left to work with he and his steer.

GOOD LUCK!!

You didn't say if he has been leading the calf by himself or not. That is the first step. When they are "comfortable" with each other, get them both used to the show stick and have him practice stopping the calf with it's head up. When they have mastered that, have him try to "walk" the steer into place with all 4 feet more or less square on all 4 corners when he stops. Good Luck! RW

There is so many tricks to showing. What I would suggest to you is to first go buy a Showmanship DVD, such as Sullivan's has a good one and there are other good ones out there also. Go to Sullivan's Show Supply and they have DVDs on grooming and all different parts of showing a steer along with the showmanship. I could start going into almost writing a book but it makes way more sense if you get a DVD and watch it and then practice it. You still have time but I would get on it and then start working that steer everynight, that's the best way to get the showmanship part of the show down. It will show you how to set the steer up, how to position yourself and other topics involved with the showmanship. The DVD is worth it's money, lots of good information, watch it with your son who is going to be showing and then help him practice with the steer. Practice makes perfect, good luck.

First of all, Thank you all for your advice!!

My son leads him but with my husband holding on to the tail of the lead. So, I guess he doesn't exactly lead him by himself. I can see we have LOTS to work on before the end of August. I really want to catch a show somewhere. Does anyone know if there is a website with a list of shows in Oklahoma? And I will be purchasing a DVD too. Thanks again for all your help!

I should have videoed the FFA market classes at our county fair, there were about 5 kids I could have used to show the propper way to show a steer and about 25 I could have used for what you do not want to do when showing a steer, Lining up wrong, getting stuck in a corner on profile not looking at the judge when he is starring at them waiting to place them, to getting placed 2nd and then going to the wrong end of the line putting themself in last.

Going to a show prior is a good Idea, the videos will definitely let him know what is going on as far as getting the animal ready prior to the show, setting up and positioning the animal, watching classes prior to your at your show will also give him an idea of how the ring is being handled and what the judge is wanting from them in the classes, from entering the ring, lining up and exiting.

Our fair has poles in the ring that support the canopy, you do not want to set up your animal where the pole is going to block the judges view of the animal. these are thing you will need to look for at your show, the ground may be uneven in an area, this is another area you would want to avoid setting up in. these are the things you look for when watching the other classes as well.

Is the national Hereford show live?  It wouldn't be quite the same but it would at least give you the idea of what you need to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCyJ0mKCiUU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f51j5CWUn4&feature=related

I hope this helps.  I know how you feel and miss it.  This is my daughters last years.  Feels like just yesterday I was in your shoes asking same thing.  Relax and have fun is best advice I can give you.  Kids feed off parents emotions.  Don't get caught up in the politics of showing.  Have fun and your kids will love it.  As I look back I accomplished what we set out to do.  My daughter has learned a way of life, responsibilities, disciplines, rewards/hard work that will later be useful in her life.