Something to Smoke in Your Pipe

[BuckJones]

Can't comment on the bigger shows. But our local shows are still ranch cattle that are expected to do well in both the show ring and on the ranch. A show is meant to show of the cattle.
It is a natural evolution that there would become a show-type cattle as breeders try to conform to standards set by the show ring and what is practical branches off. This is why accountants have developed "ideal" standards as well as practical standards. The ideal is something everyone is always working towards, but the practical standard is the real world, attainable standard.

 

[balestabber]

i personally admire a girl in bib overalls standing next to a pitch fork and scoop shovel.if she wishes to add a little lip-stick,nail polish,and hair do for the show ,thats fine to.thats all good for the cattleman.
but for the cowboy,i think theres a difference between a show mare,a riden mare, and a brood mare.

 

[Ben H]

The way I've seen it, by growing up doing it, is that the whole point of being good at fitting is to enhance the good traits but hide the faults as best you can. I also spent a lot of time on the dairy side of things. I think one of the biggest eye openers was helping take pictures, I've done it quite a bit. You think they hide faults in the show ring, that's nothing. Back not straight enough? Black cow gets vet wrap and potting soil across the topline with some paint. White cow uses talcum powder. And that was before they started using photoshop.

 

[jeff in ca]

To take this post another direction. Ponder this; Urban people ultimately make the laws in our nation. So when the country comes to town, showing cattle. We should be really telling our story and selling our industry. Very few urban people can make the connection between the pasture to plate.

Myt your notion of selling show cattle to commercial men is sort of an old fashion notion as expressed by the examples given of how the cattle business has evolved.

Back to my main point. Folks we need to get our story out there. People are so far removed from agriculture that they believe the Super-market is where the food comes from. We in the industry know the story.

 

[per]

Jeff how many folks at the livestock part of these shows are pure urbanites? In Calgary the barns are not the most popular part of the Stampede with the exception of the Horses. I don't disagree with your premise I was just wondering.

 

[mytfarms]

Oh boy, let's not get rolling on the photo deal. But to comment on Jeff's post, he is pretty accurately describing the situation. Although you're less likely to see urbanites out in the yards at Denver, they show up all over our county fair grounds. This is the place where we deal with scrutiny about how our livestock are treated and what their purpose is. I believe I had about 10 different folks in the course of a week stop and speak with me. Some knew everything about cattle already so a little bit of smooth talking was required to help shed some light on more accurate information. Others brought out their children to "pet the cow". So, it opens up the opportunity to explain that this is a steer, and steers are primarily fed solely for beef production because the cannot reproduce. Then, we go into what he weighs and how old he is. "Wow, he really weighs 1390#s? He must eat a lot." Yes he does, and it's very expensive to feed cattle. But in return they produce the highest quality protein product known to man. Anybody need a beef ambassador? :lol:

 

[per]

Not to mention iron MYT. So the country fair is closer to the people and the Big shows are mostly blowing smoke?

 

[jeff in ca]

Jeff how many folks at the livestock part of these shows are pure urbanites?

Per, I used to run down the road. Tons of school field trips, lots of follow up visits my families, after junior saw the animals. I know we are only scratching the surface as to numbers of people. But the beaver, don't fall the tree on the first bite either.

 

[mytfarms]

Well, there is a delicate balance up at stock show that gets thrown out of whack every now and again. For the most part, it's only cattlemen in the yards, and the folks up on the hill with the junior show projects deal with the crowds. A couple years back, a family tried to pet a heifer as she passed and the owners/showmen were understandably upset at messing with the hair, not to mention that the calf was pretty freaked out and just about got someone kicked. I think the city folk are a bit of an annoyance up there. However, at the county fair level, our barns are wide open for folks to walk through. In fact, they're one of the bigger draws of fair. It's a little different with a 4-H calf like mine that's dead broke and is tied in his stall chewing his cud. People feel a little more comfortable around stock like that. Although we're all well aware of the safety issues and the insurance mess, people get rudely turned away so often I like to offer some closely monitored time to pet the calf or scratch a pig. The general public is the only reason livestock agriculture will be allowed to continue, and a county fair calf may be the only steer they ever see in their lifetime. So if I give them a positive experience, why, they just automatically have a little better view of raising cattle and the people who raise them. Have I mentioned I enjoy speaking about this?