I promise that if you’ve been showing for any length of time, you’ve made entry errors. Most people can tell you a story that may be funny now but wasn’t when the error was made. You’ll be equipped to avoid common mistakes by the time you finish this post.
Entry errors can cost you money!
If you are new to Stock Show Stories, you may not know I normally emphasize my point with a mistake… an “educational opportunity” I’ve made in the past. Here’s this week’s story:
I was in high school and had just shown the Champion and Reserve Hereford heifer in the junior show. I turned back to the barn with the heifers to celebrate how well the day had gone.
As the group classes started, Mel Hansen called out asking me where I was going…
Why? Because I needed to take my heifers in for Pair of Females… huh?
The Bewildered Teenager
I know I had that bewildered look that teenagers get when something simply doesn’t compute.
I didn’t even know what “pair of females” meant. As the name indicates, it’s a class where you show two females together.
When I asked, he told me “you have champion and reserve…you’ll win the pair of females class.”
And I would have…if I’d have entered it. That cost me close to $100 in premium money. Anyone who’s been around Mel knows he’s less than stellar at hiding his shock at something dumb. I can tell you that day wasn’t any different.
This is a lesson that’s stuck with me. I always chuckle at the memory of the look on his face when I told him I didn’t enter! So, make sure you are entered in all classes for which you are eligible!
You May Not Be Able to Sell Your Animal
I’ve seen kids who were unable show at county shows because their parents didn’t fill out the entries correctly or didn’t complete all of the required information. County fairs are run differently across the country. For the most part, on the West Coast, county fairs conclude in a terminal sale for the stock that has been shown.
Imagine how you’d feel being unable to sell an animal you’d planned to because of a simple paperwork error?
Don’t be Intimidated
Entering shows can be intimidating, especially if you are new to it. Terminology can be confusing. Check out our Free
Additionally, jackpots are different from county fairs which are different still from major shows. Online entries sometimes complicate the process because some programs are simply not very good. So how do you keep yourself out of hot water?
Tips to Avoid Disaster
- Read the premium book, rules, or guidelines. It will keep on the right track to knowing all of the rules for a particular show.
- Ensure you are entered into all of the classes you want to or should be entering.
- Utilize leaders, agents, and advisors to prevent entry errors. I’ve seen some very good leaders who create checklists for their kids of what is required.
- If the option is available to you, list who you’d like to stall with at the show on your entry or in the “notes section” of the entry, if there is one. Even if it seems like it should be implied by a 4-H or FFA group, put it in there anyway.
- At some shows, if you show a breed steer (for example a Hereford, Angus or Shorthorn) you may need to provide registration papers for him. Know those rules.
- Example: you plan to show a purebred Angus steer in the British division but didn’t realize he needed registration papers. When you get stuck in the cross-bred division, the outcome of your placing may be far different than you’d hoped.
- Some females are dual registered. Therefore, you can choose in which division you want to show her. Ask the person you bought her from or someone knowledgeable which division to enter if you are unclear. Different parts of the country have different divisions, so there is not one consistent answer.
Health/ Brand Papers
This one always gets me, particularly if we are going to Reno. If you are traveling out of state, you likely need health papers and may need a brand inspection depending on brand laws for your state. Contact your vet ahead of time. Sometimes, you have to do additional tests that can’t be turned around in one day.
We can drive 8 hours within California to a show and clearly don’t need health papers. Reno is only 4 hours…but it’s a different state, so we need health papers.
Funny thing… it’s about crossing the state line, not the distance you’re traveling…
It seems like most often, the show doesn’t even look at the papers when you check in…but you don’t want to be caught without them. Not to mention, the guys at the state line usually don’t have a great sense of humor if you are without necessary health or brand papers.
Make a Checklist
I’m a huge fan of a checklist. Partly because that’s how I need things organized in the chaos of my life. And, partly because there is some magical endorphin release when I cross something off of a list. Do you ever feel that way? Forget exercising! Give me a list to check off any day!
The best advice I can offer is to review the rules, even if you’ve been showing somewhere for years. Rules change and not necessarily with good notice.
If you have questions, just ask the show management. The vast majority of people I’ve run across who run shows are incredibly nice and giving people.
Treat them with respect and ask questions you may have for clarification on entries. This will help prevent entry errors. Consider that they are probably bombarded with a multitude of questions, so offer grace if they seem frazzled. That doesn’t mean don’t ask the question…just do it nicely.
If you’d like more tips, Click for:
One Day You’ll Forget Your Cattle
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