Steer show!

I'm back!  Many thanks to Abigail for getting a post up to keep you all updated. :)

So I now have a steer show under my belt and have found it to be a lot of fun and very educational!  I think they already have me hooked. :)  This was also my first show of the spring/summer ( I attended the Green and White hog show earlier this year ) and it gets me all excited for show season!  Anyway, back to the steer show.  I competed in judging and placed 8th.  We judged Angus, Chi, and Shorthorn heifers and Herford Bulls.  We also did two sets of questions.  Our steers arrived around 1:30 and then we spent the afternoon and evening washing, blowing, clipping, feeding, bedding, walking and practicing showmanship.  Sunday morning we were up and back at it.  We had showmanship at 9:00 and I was told we did very well.  I think we kinda surprised 'em!!!  The judge picked out two and then told me that he could only pick two, so I would have been next.  Ah well, at least I was paid a complement of sorts by the judge!  My steer behaved perfectly, so that helped a ton.  Mom, Abigail and Elizabeth came up and saw what was going on for a while.  They had some delays so unfortunately missed showmanship.  They left around 11:00.  I showed in my market class around 3:00 and placed....last.  It was a very competitive class and my steer is still very green.  I knew he wouldn't place well, so I wasn't very surprised or disappointed.  By the time we pulled out of there I was exhausted!  I slept most of the way home so I would have enough energy to do chores. Ahh, it felt good to sleep in my own bed though that night!

Sooooo.......

A few things I learned about showing:
1) If you are ever going to show, learn how to fit your own steers well.  You can spend a lot of money of paying people to fit them for you.
2) You need a generator.  Oh, and they are really loud when you have about 5-10 of them running at once, along with a bunch of blowers.
3) You can make a really bad steer look good if he has hair. :D
4) It gets really competitive at these shows.  And I don't mean just inside the show ring.
5) The youth don't care much about showmanship and worry a ton about market classes. :(
6) Just relax and have fun!  Don't worry so much about how you placed.  Enjoy your time and learn all you can!  Thanks Mr. B for that tip! :)

So, that was my weekend!  How's everyone else faring?  Anyone else have a spring break last week?  How did that go?  Are you all glad/disappointed/okay with going back to school?  It sure makes it quiet and structured around here. :)  Hope all is well with each one of you!

~Bethany~

P.S.  I forgot my camera, but a friend of mine should be getting me pictures.  I'll post them when I get them.