Every single person who has every shown at a fair or jack pot remembers that first show where they had absolutely no idea what the heck they were getting into. Looking back through my old county fair pictures I am amazed how much my showmanship skills and show equipment have evolved over the years. I find it hard to imagine how I ever got far showing without a whip or using a watering can instead of a sprayer. But hey, everyone has to start somewhere in order to learn and get better. So if this is your first fair, here are some tips that will hopefully make your Freddy experience go a little smoother.
1. Walk your animals at home before fair- Yup we were that family that never took the pigs out of the pen until we loaded them onto the trailer for our first fair. Biggest mistake of our lives. It's not that fun to chase 4 pigs around the barn just to get them to the wash rack and back. It took us one fair experience to learn from that disaster. Whether you show pigs, cattle, lambs, or goats, work with them at home. Trust me, it will make fair run a whole lot smoother. Your fellow exhibitors will also appreciate not having your animals run rampage through the barn while they are also trying to get chores done.
2. Be on top of your paperwork- It seems like every year fairs find another form you have to have filled out by or before fair or another document that proves your animal's identification isn't someone else's. It can be very confusing and overwhelming to try to remember what you all need, and the most disheartening thing to see is a first time showman getting disqualified from fair because he forgot to fill out one little form. Keep a list of what you all need and don't be afraid to make multiple calls to your extension office to make sure you aren't forgetting anything. That's what they are there for.
3. Eyes on the judge- I know that when it's your first show ever, you are extremely nervous and are usually concentrating on controlling your animal more than the judge or always looking for Dad to make sure you are doing every thing right. However, eye contact with the judge is extremely important. He may ask you to move your animal a certain way so he can get a better look or may be placing you and needs your attention. Either way, the ground, the animal, and your dad on the sidelines are not the ones judging your animal, so there's no reason to look at them more than the judge. Keep your eyes on the man deciding the prize.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help-If you are having troubles with your animal or don't know how the whole fair thing works, ask! Older members can seem scary and intimidating, but they usually aren't. They have been in your place before and know that sometimes you just need help. All you have to do is ask and more often than not someone will lead you in the right direction. Fair is not about letting first timers fail. It's about learning and you can't learn if you don't ask.
5. Look after your animals.- Fair almost always lands on the hottest days of the year. Be sure that your animals constantly have a fan on them and are kept cool. Also, be sure that your animals have enough feed to stay content and full. Nothing is more irritating to another 4-Her than having to take care of someone else's animals during fair because of negligence. I know there are a lot of fun things to explore at fair and time seems to just slip by you, but be sure to stop by your pens or stalls a couple times a day to make sure every thing is comfortable and well.
6. Have fun- Whether you believe it or not, the friends and memories you make at fair will be ones you have for the rest of your life. Some of the closest friends I have now are ones I grew up with at fair. I will never forget all the water fights or hours spent playing cards in the barn with them. When it's your first year, fair can seem really intimidating and stressful. However, these days spent at fair are limited. Don't be too shy to make some friends and memories while you have the chance.
Good luck to all the first-timers and veterans during this busy fair season! Veterans, I have a tip for you too: don't be too high and mighty to help out the first-timers. You were there once and someone helped you get to where you are now. Be that person for them.
1. Walk your animals at home before fair- Yup we were that family that never took the pigs out of the pen until we loaded them onto the trailer for our first fair. Biggest mistake of our lives. It's not that fun to chase 4 pigs around the barn just to get them to the wash rack and back. It took us one fair experience to learn from that disaster. Whether you show pigs, cattle, lambs, or goats, work with them at home. Trust me, it will make fair run a whole lot smoother. Your fellow exhibitors will also appreciate not having your animals run rampage through the barn while they are also trying to get chores done.
2. Be on top of your paperwork- It seems like every year fairs find another form you have to have filled out by or before fair or another document that proves your animal's identification isn't someone else's. It can be very confusing and overwhelming to try to remember what you all need, and the most disheartening thing to see is a first time showman getting disqualified from fair because he forgot to fill out one little form. Keep a list of what you all need and don't be afraid to make multiple calls to your extension office to make sure you aren't forgetting anything. That's what they are there for.
3. Eyes on the judge- I know that when it's your first show ever, you are extremely nervous and are usually concentrating on controlling your animal more than the judge or always looking for Dad to make sure you are doing every thing right. However, eye contact with the judge is extremely important. He may ask you to move your animal a certain way so he can get a better look or may be placing you and needs your attention. Either way, the ground, the animal, and your dad on the sidelines are not the ones judging your animal, so there's no reason to look at them more than the judge. Keep your eyes on the man deciding the prize.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help-If you are having troubles with your animal or don't know how the whole fair thing works, ask! Older members can seem scary and intimidating, but they usually aren't. They have been in your place before and know that sometimes you just need help. All you have to do is ask and more often than not someone will lead you in the right direction. Fair is not about letting first timers fail. It's about learning and you can't learn if you don't ask.
5. Look after your animals.- Fair almost always lands on the hottest days of the year. Be sure that your animals constantly have a fan on them and are kept cool. Also, be sure that your animals have enough feed to stay content and full. Nothing is more irritating to another 4-Her than having to take care of someone else's animals during fair because of negligence. I know there are a lot of fun things to explore at fair and time seems to just slip by you, but be sure to stop by your pens or stalls a couple times a day to make sure every thing is comfortable and well.
6. Have fun- Whether you believe it or not, the friends and memories you make at fair will be ones you have for the rest of your life. Some of the closest friends I have now are ones I grew up with at fair. I will never forget all the water fights or hours spent playing cards in the barn with them. When it's your first year, fair can seem really intimidating and stressful. However, these days spent at fair are limited. Don't be too shy to make some friends and memories while you have the chance.
Good luck to all the first-timers and veterans during this busy fair season! Veterans, I have a tip for you too: don't be too high and mighty to help out the first-timers. You were there once and someone helped you get to where you are now. Be that person for them.