Working year-round to prepare cattle for a show such as World Dairy Expo isn’t just for the benefit of the cattle. It’s for the showman too, especially when it comes to the junior showmanship contest, which attracts more than 460 young showmen to the colored shavings each year.
Particularly at state, national and global levels, the competition is tough – and equally as hard to judge. Eric Topp of Topp-View Farms in Botkins, Ohio, is a renowned cattle judge and exhibitor.
“I think it’s just getting tougher to judge showmanship anymore, because at the state and national shows it comes down to just one slip up that could even be your heifer raising her tail at the wrong time,” he says. “Or if you just don’t get her set up as quick as that other person, that’s what we’ve come to. It could be something beyond your control, but these kids are so good now it’s tough to pick them apart.”
As intense as the competition might be, the Topp family says it’s worth it – and arguably the most important class at a show.
“You’re not worried about the conformation of the animal, and kids that don’t have a really good animal still have a chance. I think that’s pretty special,” Eric says.
Eric’s daughter Madelyn had a halter in her hand at age three and has participated in the showmanship contest at every local, regional, state and national show she’s attended since then. Now a college student, she shares her dad’s views on the importance of this opportunity for young exhibitors.
“I take the most pride in doing showmanship because it doesn’t matter how much I spent on my animal or how good she is,” Madelyn says. “It’s something that you can work on, and it really shows your pride and your dedication to the dairy industry – even just working with your animal and your excitement about it. I think it’s so important, because they’re judging you, not necessarily your animal.”
The way an animal is led can make the difference between first and second place in her class.
“We’re having so many people taking videos of their kids practicing, and the kids are picking up on what they need to do differently,” Eric says. “They can see, based on the conformation of the animal, sometimes it’s walking at a slower pace to make her feet and legs look better or not getting her stretched out too far when she’s set up.”
A showman who has refined these skills can move an animal up by a couple of places in her class, compared to someone with less experience at the halter.
Mary Topp – Eric’s wife and Madelyn’s mom – sees benefits to the showmanship contest beyond the showring.
“You could be out there for a really long time. You’ve got to keep it together,” she says. “I think that portrays over into life lessons. Life doesn’t always go the way you want, and you almost have to have that game face on.
“When your heifer doesn’t lead very well, you’ve got to keep it together. You can’t get upset and give up, and that’s kind of what life is about. You’ve got to work hard. It still may not go your way, but it’s all going to be on how you react to it, and showmanship is a lot like that,” she adds.
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