Showmanship Skills and Much, Much More

Published: 2022
By Julianne Snedigar

For the past three years, 4-H and FFA participants in the beef and lamb projects have participated in weekly showmanship workshops before the fair. Beginning in July, youth bring their livestock projects to the fairgrounds weekly to work on everything from showing in the ring to feeding and fitting beef and sheep projects. Almost 100% of sheep project members and over 75% of beef project members participated in the learning events each week. The market beef project numbers increased by 35%, and the beef breeding project numbers increased by over 70% in the past year. Sheep project numbers have maintained with many new youth members trying the project for the first time this year. There were four new members in the market lamb project this year, more than in the past five years. Beef and sheep project members credit the workshops with helping them, and their animals feel less stressed at fair. The animals behave better because they are used to being at the fairgrounds. Thus, the 4-H members feel more confident during the show. Parents also credit the workshops with helping them better understand the project participant's requirements. As an added benefit, older project participants assist the younger members. They state this has helped them become role models and learn more about the projects. Again this year, the fair livestock judge credited the showmanship workshops with providing youth an opportunity to fine-tune their skills and make his job a lot more difficult. Over 80% of the participants earned blue ribbons in showmanship with their projects. These learning opportunities have greatly benefited the 4-H youth in the county as well as increased participation in Blaine County 4-H.