Ms. Wendy Hall
Arroyo Grande, California

I have been involved in showing and preparing cattle since my 4-H days. I had a lot of help and support from my parents and Ag teacher who encouraged and inspired me. While attending Cal Poly University, I remained a 4-H leader and was very involved in Cal Poly’s Show Program.

After graduation, I returned to Cal Poly to get my Masters and Ag Teaching Credential and worked as the student assistant for the Show Projects. In those days, Cal Poly sold and prepared about 200 project calves each year. I learned a lot about fitting cattle and enjoyed the teaching part of it as well.

I did become an Ag Teacher but was hired by Cal State University, Fresno as the Beef Cattle Technician soon after. Again, I was put into a position I loved, combining cattle and kids. I spent 4 years encouraging students to become involved with the cattle. We established a program where students prepared and showed about 20 market steers, 60 club calves, and breeding cattle at several shows and sales each year. It was so rewarding helping these students with very little background really become successful.

After leaving Fresno, I continued my own fitting business, primarily fitting and showing club calves and my own project heifers and working for others for 10 years until my photography business grew.

I established my livestock photography business called "COWFOTO" in 1983. I "shoot" many fairs and also take photographs at ranches for sale catalogs and advertisement purposes. This business has kept me involved in the livestock industry and kept me involved with young people.

During this time, I gave several "Fitting Seminars" and wrote a Fitting and Showing Article for the Angus Journal. It was eventually rewritten and updated for the Chianina Journal, Angus Topics and the Hereford Journal. It has since been used by many Universities and youth programs across the country. There is a big need for current information on all aspects of project preparation.

1. Educator

2. Tutor

3. Coach

4. Role Model

5. Mentor

6. Enthusiastic Competitor

 

 

Including an adult in helping a child learn to exhibit animals proficiently and successfully is the same as seeking help for the child to better his math skills, learn to cook or play an instrument.

In my opinion, the only kids that excel in anything have assistance, encouragement and guidance at some point. The need to excel is primarily driven by our competitive nature and love of the "game." Sometimes, adults’ desire to win gets in the way of good judgment or their inability to believe they can be good teachers.

The movement by fairs and shows towards involving exhibitors in "skill-a-thon" type programs is a step in the right direction. The exhibitors are judged on their knowledge of the subject, related areas of animal production and showmanship skills, rather than just who has the best animal. These types of programs encourage the exhibitor to learn more about their project and does remove the involvement of the parents or "fitters" in the success of the child to some extent. These programs can serve to make young people more informed about agriculture in general.

It depends on each circumstance. Are there good ag teachers and 4-H leaders involved, are the parents capable or comfortable making the decisions alone? There are lots of good people that can be of great assistance to insure success for a child. It’s the parents' direct responsibility to make sure these people tutors, coaches, teachers, and "fitters"are the right people to influence their children.

Many of the people that sell the animals to the kids remain involved to protect their investment. Their livelihood in part depends on the success of those animals in the show ring. This is a business after all. The parent needs to know if these animals are purchased with any strings attached and what type of person they are dealing with before the animals are purchased.

The amount of preparation time spent varies greatly between species. Cattle require much more time to prepare at the show than hogs or slick shorn lambs do. A young exhibitor certainly requires more help in the beginning of his show career than does a 16- year- old. It is very important to guide a young person to success, encourage him to learn new things, challenge him when he is ready and above all make this a fun experience. The desire and natural ability of the youth and the commitment by the parents dictate the involvement of an outside source.

In my opinion, the jackpot system, at least in California, has done more for the growth of showing livestock than all the other venues combined. It is a place where families are encouraged to "do the project" together without being told "not to touch." A place for much needed education and fun can take place. Those kids that are able to use these opportunities are more proficient and enthused than those that compete only in the county fair system and do not have the opportunity to learn. The more the exhibitor has a chance to "practice" and learn, the more successful he will become. It is the parents' and youth advisors' responsibility to participate only in those events that are well managed, where ethical involvement is encouraged, and the kids have a positive environment in which to learn.

In our state as a judge, I have seen such an improvement in the capabilities and enthusiasm of our young people showing livestock. The younger exhibitors are more talented than ever, thanks to our jackpot system. Jackpot shows have encouraged cooperation between exhibitors from different parts of the state, brought families together and generally has helped to stabilize the sale of show livestock in the state.

Each "show system" needs to handle the adult involvement issue specifically based on their own needs and goals. There is a huge difference between a little county fair in the mountains and the Denver Livestock Show, as far as the rules and policies that are needed for each venue. Let us not discourage family involvement, lose the "community fair" feel, or discourage education by making rules that cannot be enforced and need not be at every level. The incorporation of ethics training, primarily "quality assurance" training, and any educational programs at many of these livestock events will serve to improve the showing industry as a whole.

Those children that are lucky enough to grow up showing livestock deserve every chance to be a success; not necessarily winning every time but rather accomplishing small goals each time out, meeting new friends and spending quality family time. Providing the tools for success is the responsibility of the parents, youth advisors, and show management.

Showing livestock is a great way for kids to build character, develop sportsmanship skills and establish self-esteem. Shows are a wonderful venue to teach lots of agriculture and life skills to exhibitors.

Being involved in the showing industry has made a big impact on my life. It has given me the ability to help young people in their growing process in a very positive way. The skills I have learned help me daily in my photography business. The ability to evaluate livestock and having the ability to prepare that animal to enhance its appearance has made me a more accomplished livestock photograph.

I guess over the last 20 years I have been through all the "Life Stages of a Fitter": student, employee, producer, teacher and finally RETIRED.