Most of you know how I feel about the fact that the ones putting on the show and hiring the judges for the show are able to have animals in the show. Not only have animals in the show but be aloud in the make-up area and push the animals into the ring. As if thats not enough, they will then go stand on the rail in front of the animal looking at the judge as if to say 'I dare you to pick someone else'. From what I could observe this technique worked about 90% of the time last week.
Now in their defense, 80% of the time they probably had the best animal in the ring. Why, because the amount of money the families showing these animals spend, and the professional help they are able to hire. Even the above average income family is not going to spend $48,000. on a charolias steer. Most families in the state will spend $2000-$7000 on the top end steer in their string and fit the calves themselves.
Over the past few years the familes that I have talked to that no longer attend the BBB have told me that it is because of the politics. They are also tired of seeing the same ol dog and pony show. Make no mistake, this is the reason the numbers are down. You can call it politics, or whatever you want to call it, but you are going up against the very best that are out there and know that going in. We all know this before we get there but thats why we go. We want to see how we stand up against the very best.
I will keep on going as long as I have a calve to drag. Why, because I like the BBB. I have met so many nice people and made so many great friends over the years that I only get to see at the BBB, Fall Classic, or the Majors. Oh, and there is nothing I like more than showing a $20,000 calve the back side of my daughters $2,000 calve when the judge is thru placing... (clapping)