The Chosen Few---turned into a few too many

[kcoolage]

I started the earlier post--Goings on at the Red Hill Classic--I would like to state that I received an email from the organizer of the FFA club that hosted this open show apologizing for those who had politicked this show. He said he had been out of the show circuit awhile and wasn't prepared for this to happen. The longer I have thought it about it, the more angry I have become. Now, I feel sorry for the FFA club, not just the other people there showing. My question is WHY--why would a nationally known figure who has big sponsorship and hosts fitting clinics come in and make sure he mopped up an open show??? Why walk on all the "little" people there--just b/c it wasn't big enough for too many people to see what he was doing, b/c no one would know other than the few people who were there and they don't matter to him?? Just to take care of the customers that might not win elsewhere, so here was an opportunity?? And if you're those families than just cleaned up b/c of the ear tag you had, did you really win? Maybe we should start a post with info. of judges that look out for important people or important people to buy from that will make sure win even if it's at a no name open show. Or how about I just offer some advice--next time you politic a show--just take Grand or Reserve and maybe a breed here and there, not Grand, Reserve, Champion and Reserve Champion Cross, 3-4 Breed Champion and Reserves, as well as showmanship...at some point it becomes a little much.

 

[rackranch]

Don't know the entire story and didn't read your last post but if you don't like politics in the show ring you should find something else to do.  The big names win most of the time because they are the best or have the ability to hire the best..  If its a show for anyone to enter or have anyone fit for you and no rules were broken then you don't have much of a complaint.  Me, I would have been over at their stall watching them and trying to learn anything that I could from them.  We lined up in Houston last week in a class that could have the possible Grand in it and in fact had the reserve overall champion in it.  There were 51 steers in our class and when I walked down the line and saw all the big names we were fixing to go against I was even more excited to get in the ring and see how we stacked up.  We took eighth in class and it was the most awesome time my family has had in the show ring.  We were proud to stand in where we did behind the forty thousand dollar steers.  I hope I didn't read your massage wrong but it just sounded to me like you were complaing about looseing.  If I'm wrong I apologize

 

[JDP]

I was there to watch the heifer show and two other guys followed along with the judge the whole show with no trouble.  Now i could be mistaken but i believe the person you are referring to had a heifer that was in the final drive and in my mind should have been that wasn't used for grand or reseve. I believe the judge did a very good job. Like mentioned before one man's opinion on one day. It was a beautiful day and was a really competitive show. i went back to the stalls and saw a bunch of really great fitting. hope it happens again next year.

 

[skeeter20]

Icouldn't agree more with the second post.    I learned 20 yrs ago when I was showing, and now it is a quite often used quote around our parts, " IF YOU CANT BEAT EM, JOIN EM" And guess what, happened next. Now that my kids show, I let them make the decisions on what cattle they want to show, we travel thousands of miles looking at cattle, from calves on the cow at a not so popular farm, to the bling of steer jocks farms. BUT, the kids need to know how much money they have in thier pocket also. Nope, my kids havent won yet, but the drive to win gets stronger and stronger, and they work harder and harder every year. Its a learning/working process, and thats why we do it, win or lose.

 

[SpotShowDad]

I would like to THANK everyone who participated, supported, volunteered, or otherwise had anything to do with this show. It takes a tremendous amount of effort from a lot of people to put something like this together. As a parent and volunteer of this FFA Chapter we were extremely pleased with the turn out of both numbers and quality. It is extremely gratifying to have the caliber of cattle that we have had support this show the last two years. We greatly appretiate the effort of Garrett Helregel in sorting this set of cattle. The kids of this FFA chapter put forth a tremendous amount of effort to bring this show to the area and I know they deserve a HUGE congratulations for succeeding in this venture. Having been involved in this "industry" for 30 yrs now, I realize you can not make everyone happy. However, no one, including myself or the young people of this FFA chapter should or will apologize for the success of this show.

I would especially like to thank the sponsors who graciously contribute the dollars that make this show possible. The generosity of these people make it possible for our young poeple to continue to participate in these activities so many of us have shared with our own families, and continue to share with future generations of young people.

Sincerely

Mark Bowyer

 

[flacowman]

Now that's the attitude that showing is supposed to teach to kids AND parents Mark.  Glad y'all had the support to throw such a shindig