showmanship awards

I was ashamed at our county fair this past fall when our Supreme Beef Showmanship winner only won a plastic, cheap looking plaque.  So this year, I have decided to sponsor a new award for the winner.  I'd like to do something different, original and worthy of such an honor.  When I won it (back in the day- we won't go there), I won a belt buckle. Does anyone have any ideas for a neat award or examples that you've seen as other shows?  Thanks (thumbsup)

personally, I'd rather have a cheap plaque, than what most places give as awards.. Stuff like scotch combs, curry combs, showsticks, rope halters.. etc..  To me, yes this stuff is needed, but I want something that in 20 years, I will be able to remember.  When I was in 4H, I won every senior showmanship available, between my last and second to last years in 4H, as we could not compete the year following winning.  The kids that are winning showmanships, are likely winning them all..  If they are like I did.. They might forget about some of them down the road.

Down here theres a variety of things that you can win. A Large trophy, rosette and belt buckle is the most normal. But i've seen chairs, placks, blankets, jackets, and banners.

I'm sure they'll still do the cheap plaque. I just wanted to add an additional award for these kids that work so hard.  

our county gets carried away with plaques as well. i always like a belt buckle, you can still for sure remember that one in 10 years. especially if you get a name engraved in it. i would love to have even a lower quality buckle made but with my name on it for winning. just something my dad had from when he showed but im not sure if they still gve those out

Engraved silver platters are awsome and a nice change from belt buckles...

we too are sponsoring showmanship at this coming county show, I can't decide whether to do a buckle or rosette, or both

My kids got new show halters with a brass plate with the show and year on it. Usefull with the info on it.

frostback said:

My kids got new show halters with a brass plate with the show and year on it. Usefull with the info on it.

Click to expand...

i like that

belt buckles are always nice and i watched a show the other day where they let the winner customize their buckle with a price range or certian maker thought that was pretty neat. also went to a show in the past where it was a metal cut out in this case it would be surpreme showman and have a picture of a calf or showman and calf with 2011 cut out with it it was really nice. i think the chairs that look like director chairs are nice to take to shows set up at the trailer and show off.

I think the kids enjoy buckles the most.  Ribbons and plaques just sit in the showbox, or a corner of their bedroom but a belt buckle will be used weekly, if not daily.  If you want to give the kids something they'll really like, give them something they can show off routinely.

The leather exhibitors harness with the show and date on it are always nice.

Buckles are always a hit with the kids, and you can get some pretty decent ones for a pretty reasonable price!  When I was at McNeese and we did our Jackpot we did embroidered bag chairs.  Not the directors chairs, but the bag camping chairs you can buy at Wal-Mart.  We went to Wal-Mart and bought them for $10, took the fabric off the frame, took it to a local lady to embroider(along with the bag) and then put them back together.  They turned out awesome and only cost us like $25 a piece total!
If you are sticking with a plaque or trophy idea, I like the acrylic trophies that are cut out in the shape of the animal along with a rosette.  They look really classy and expensive but in reality are pretty cheap. 
But for things like Jackpots I love the things like embroidered chairs, duffle bags, boot bags, garmen bags, etc.  Kids love to use them to show off that they won, and it also advertises your show!