Heads held high at exhibitor clinic 

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

A-1 grooming technique   ...  James Davis, retired Bell County Extension agent and livestock judge, demonstrates how to properly blow dry this heifer’s hair. During a clinic on Dec. 28 he taught the youth of Bell County the correct way to handle and show animals for livestock shows.           � Photo by Mindy Poehl�

January 5, 2005 - The youth of Bell County competes in many livestock shows throughout the year, and on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 10 youth from Bell County gathered at the Bell County Expo Center to gain hands-on expertise at showing and handling animals. The students got some excellent help with this instruction, too. Retired Bell County Extension agent and livestock judge, James Davis, provided the tutorial for the clinic..

"Before you enter the show ring, you've got to have your animal's head up and your stick in your hand. You've got to be ready," Davis said. "By the time you get out there, I'm gonna know if I like your animal or not. That's just the way it is."

Ashleigh Vanderveer, a freshman from Troy, combs her heifer during a break at an instructional class given to the youth of Bell County. The youth were taught how to properly show and handle their animals in the show ring. � Photo by Mindy Poehl�

Davis demonstrated walking the animal around the ring, using all of the corners and taking his time.

"Don't walk in and head straight for the hole. That tells me you are  more interested in getting it over with than interested in showing your steer."

When in the ring, Davis explained to always leave yourself plenty of room.

"The rear end of the animal always follows the head, so move the head where you want that rear to be," Davis said. 

Leave room between the gate and the animal so you have room to move forward as the judge calls on you and your animal. That way you won't force the animal to make any awkward movements.

"It's critical you've got that (animal's) head up when you enter the gate," Davis enforced once more. 

He said to tie the animal up with their heads up so they get used to standing that way, with their heads up.

"They've got to build stamina to get used to holding that head up," stated Davis. "If you work at it, then it becomes natural to the animal. Tie him up 30 to 45 minutes a night. Also, work them at home with the show halter, too. That way you will get them used to it and they won't act differently when you place the show halter on them before you get ready to show them."

Davis demonstrated "watching the corners." Don't set your cattle up at an angle. Use the corners to set your animal up so the judge can see the animal's profile.

"Always watch the corners and don't cut across the corners," Davis said. "You need to get the animals straight. Don't go in at an angle."

And, Davis made sure to let the youth know that they can show disappointment, but don't get mad.

"If you get mad and have a fit, I won't forget it. If you're going to act like that, stay home. This is sportsmanship," Davis said.

He then recalled a story where a girl became angry and threw her show stick in the ring after not winning. 

"I had to duck for that stick to not hit me," Davis said. "The next week I went to a show in El Paso, and guess who was showing her animal? That same girl who threw her stick and was a bad sport. You bet she didn't win that show, either."

Next, Davis spoke about blowing the animal's coats.

"Get a good blower. It's very important," he said. "Get the hair going up. You've got to get down and dirty your knees to get the job done."

He said it is difficult to evaluate black heifer's hair because "you can't see down in the hair. You only get a silhouette." And, make sure to clip the top down very short.

"Herefords are terrible to clip," said Davis. "The hair wants to go every different direction."

After attending the steer/heifer clinic, the 10 youth who attended should "be a step ahead of everyone else in the show ring," Davis said. "Half of the kids out there don't know what they are doing."