No matter how you place, if you did the best you can do, then you have won in your own way.
GREENWICH, N.Y. — As we prepare for dairy cow show season, many kids will start working with their showmanship animals to get them ready for the big day. It takes lots of hard work and dedication to win a showmanship class, along with some studying. Luckily, we have years of knowledge to help you, or your child thrive in the dairy show ring.
From maintaining a positive attitude to being prepared to answer questions, there is a lot that needs to happen before you step into the ring on showmanship day. To help kids compete for first in their age group, we have put together ten dairy cattle showmanship tips. Read on to learn more about how to best show your dairy cows and receive some tips from an actual dairy showmanship judge.
1. Enter the Ring Facing Forwards
When entering the ring, always walk in facing forwards with your left hand holding the halter. Your halter rope should be folded neatly in your hand so that you may use your right hand to pull throat if needed. Keep walking forwards until everyone has entered the ring.
Once the last person in the class enters the ring, then turn and start to walk backward while still using your left hand to hold the halter. As you circle the ring, keep walking backward. The only time you can walk forwards is on the first pull as you race into line. Every other time, especially as you are walking into the final lineup, you should be walking backward.
2. Study for Common Questions
Many judges will ask questions about the cow. Depending on the age group, the level of difficulty of these questions will vary. To be as prepared as possible, you should know the answer to the following questions.
- What do you feed your cow?
- What do you like most about your cow?
- What is your cow’s sire?
- What would you change about your cow?
- When is your cow due?
- When was your cow born?
When they ask what you like most about your cow, pick something about your cow that would help it place over another cow. For example, they may be hard across the top, or they may be open in the ribs. If you are not sure, consult with someone before you go in the ring so that you have an answer ready.
If they ask what you would change about your cow, choose something about your cow that you would like to improve upon. For example, you may say you wish your cow was a little more dairy or more even in the hooks and pins. Again, if you are not sure, consult with someone else before you go in the ring so that you are prepared to answer the question.
3. Book-It into Line
The first time the judge points to you while you are circling the ring, you need to walk as fast as possible into the initial lineup, also known as the first pull. There will be a ring assistant standing where they want you to line up. Walk your cow quickly to them but then ease the cow into line to set them up.Make sure you are as close as possible to the cow in front of you so that no one can squeeze in between and steal your spot.
This is the only time you will go fast in the ring. Many judges will do second or third pulls, during which you will go slow.
This is good practice during any class, not just showmanship. Especially as you start going to bigger shows like World Dairy Expo or NAILE, you will need to go fast into line on the first pull otherwise people will steal your placing. Never let anyone steal your place in line.
4. Don’t Re-Setup in Line
Once you have set up your cow’s feet in line, do not move them. Even if the judge walks to the other side of your cow, keep their feet set up the exact way you did originally. If you are in first, set up as if the judge is looking at your cow from the first place position (the side of the cow you are standing on). If you are the last in line, set up your cow as if the judge is standing from the last place position (the side of the cow you are not on).
This is different than when you are out circling the ring. While circling, you will want to re-set up their feet as the judge moves from one side to the other. However, whenever in line, never change their feet position after you have placed them.
A quick reminder, heifers are set up with the rear foot that is farthest from the judge stepped forward. Cows are set up with the rear foot that is closest to the judge stepped forward. In other words, if the animal is milking, use the leg to cover the udder. But if it is not milking, show off the potential of the udder. Both are set up with their front feet together.
5. Be Prepared to Switch
Many judges will have the older age groups switch cows while in the ring. The judge will walk over to you and take the halter of your cow and ask you to go take the halter of someone else’s cow. They do this to see how you can handle cows that are not yours.
When this happens, always walk around the other person’s cow, and look at it before you take the halter from them. When doing this, you are looking to see what you like and don’t like about their cow. Once you have the halter, even if their feet are set up perfectly, re-set up their feet. You do this to show that you can set the cow up better than they can.
The judge may ask you questions about the cow you have, such as how old you think it is and what you would change about it. Having a few easy answers ready if you are not sure is good practice. For example, you could say that you would like them harder across the top but that you like their depth of rib. Go over the different characteristics of cows with someone before the show so that you are familiar with the terms.
Once it is time to switch back to your cow, do not walk around your own cow. You should know your own cow. Therefore, walk straight to the halter of your cow and take it. Then reset your cow’s feet up no matter what because you can set your cow up best.
6. Consistency Is Key
This tip, along with the rest of the tips (6-10), comes from Kaylah Gulley, the 2023Northeast All Breeds Spring Showshowmanship judge. Thank you, Kaylah, for these helpful tips.
When it comes to training your showmanship animal, consistency is key. Working with your heifer every day is better than working one week before the show. Be consistent, even if it is just brushing or washing your animal each day. You don’t need to walk them all the time, but spending time with them and bonding can build a relationship that can be easily seen in the ring.
If you have ever interacted with the Udder Chaos show team, the classic saying “On the trailer. Off the trailer. To the wash rack and back. Halter broken.” will not work well for a showmanship animal. Take the time to work with them well before they get to the show.
7. Everything Should Be Spotless
Both the cow and the leadsman should be spotless. If you have a white animal, make sure you begin whitening long before show day. Cows should be spotless from their hooves to their noses. Double-check under their bellies and in their ears to make sure there is no spec of dirt.
As for you, make sure there is nothing on your white clothes. Keeping whites, white is difficult. However, you need to do your best to be spotless even if that means putting on your white moments before you go in the ring.
8. Never Give Up
No matter where you get placed, don’t stop showing until you leave the ring. Last-second changes are made all the way up until the announcer starts talking. You don’t want to lose your placing because you stopped showing as you were walking into the final pull.
Often, many judges will put their top showman halfway down the line in the first or second pull. They watch how the showman reacts to being placed low and see if they give up or not. Then, at the last second, they will pull them up to first. Don’t lose your chance at first because you gave up halfway through.
Also, if your cow is acting up, you can still place well as long as you continue to show her to the best of your abilities. Cows sometimes have bad days just like humans where they act out. Don’t get frustrated and give up. Take a deep breath and keep going for the blue ribbon. Who knows, your cow may even begin to calm down as the show continues. Just keep trying.
9. Be Respectful of Other Contestants
Good sportsmanship is key to being a good showman. Don’t be afraid to be respectful to other contestants by congratulating or helping them as long as it does not interrupt your performance.
Taking too much time to help someone with a stubborn calf or help control a crazy one can reflect badly on you because you are more focused on someone else’s performance rather than your own. However, giving a nudge here and there to a stubborn calf when the judge isn’t looking is great, and congratulating other contestants after the last pull is also good.
In and out of the ring, we should all work towards helping others more, especially within the dairy world. Together, we can build a stronger, more informed dairy community.
10. Be Friendly with The Judge
Don’t be scared of the judge. Be friendly and confident when talking to them to let them know you are comfortable in the ring.
Some judges do not like it when you smile while walking around the ring, but being friendly and a little relaxed when the judge comes up to talk to you personally can reflect well on you. Not all judges are the same though, so maintaining a high level of professionality is important.
Every Judge Is Different
As we just mentioned, not all judges like the same things. Some will like you to smile at them while others would prefer you to maintain a serious composure. Some may be more interested in how well you answer questions while others may not talk to you at all. It is all dependent upon their specific preferences.
However, as a general rule, the tips above should help you do well in your showmanship class. If the judge holds a meeting before the show, make sure you attend it. They will often share their preference, that way you know what they like and don’t like.
Also, if there are age groups before yours, take some time to watch what the judge does. At the very least, listen to their reasoning after they place the class to learn what they are looking for from the individuals in the class.
Prepare For the Dairy Show
Many fairs and judges host their ownshowmanship clinics. Check for one in your area for hands-on training to increase your or your kid’s chances of getting that master showman title. Often, you can bring your cow to get tips in real time about what you can do better to best show your animal.
Also, be sure you are taking the time to practice for the big day long before it arrives. Lead your animal around the barnyard and have someone act as the judge. They can ask you questions and test how fast you can set your animal up.
Finally, if you can, take your cow around the ring the night before showmanship to get them used to walking in the ring. Many heifers sometimes get spooked by rings filled with sawdust or soft dirt because it is different from what they are used to walking on. It is better for them to get used to it the night before rather than during go time.
Have Fun on Show Day!
At the end of the day, you should have fun in the ring. Showing cows is not all about winning. It is about going out into the ring and doing the best you can to present your animal. No matter how you place, if you did the best you can do, then you have won in your own way.
Learn from your mistakes and keep improving to do better next time, but don’t get too upset about a bad placing. Everyone has good days and bad days, and so will your cows. Just keep your head up and be prepared to try again and do better next time!
Be sure to check out the Morning Ag Clips Udder Chaos column each week for more things dairy!
LilaNolan is a dairy farmer in White Creek, NY who works at Morning Ag Clips. She avidly attends dairy shows and draws from those experiences to write about the Udder Chaos that occurs.
