Show day timing can be tricky because there are always variables. Frank regularly teases me… “You need everything in a book so you can follow it step by step.” Unfortunately, there’s no book here…you just have to learn to roll with show day. Having a system will reduce show day stress.
Many years ago, we had a Hereford bull calf in Denver that we got up to fit. About that time, Randy Beeman and Mark McClintock walked by and asked what we were doing. It seemed pretty obvious to us, but they gave us a knowing look and told us to put him back down, we still had a while.
So, back to the bed he went. Shortly after, we got him up. Randy came back by and told us to put him down…again.
I think we got that calf up three times by the time we actually started fitting him.
We were young and excited to get him looking right. We still laugh about that story. I’m sure he doesn’t remember it but I think of it every time I see Mark McClintock.
Get A System
Rushing on show day can make for a miserable experience.
Be early, be ready, be on time.
If I’m honest, I’ve caused us to be late to the barn on more occasions than I care to say. I’m no kind of a good morning person. Don’t tell Frank that I admitted it!
It is important to have a system, regardless of how many cattle you have at a show. Even if you’re a one-man-band, create a system so you don’t accidentally forget an important step.
You may walk through the barn and see a big show string but not realize all of the planning and the system behind getting those cattle ready and to the ring on time. If you ever have the opportunity to work for a big crew…TAKE IT! The experiences you’ll have and lessons you’ll learn will last a lifetime.
In our family, we try to run it like a crew. Everyone has the same job every time…
Frank washes because nobody, and I mean nobody, does a better job of getting them clean. Usually, I’m dragging cattle back and forth from the wash rack and mixing feed while the boys are blowing. I spend a good amount of time telling the little one that the calf is in fact NOT dry. For more on that, check out Nope He’s Not Clean or Dry
We may switch it up if we have more help at a particular show, but we try to remain consistent.
Our System
- If we have tie outs: Awesome – exercise and straight to the barn/wash rack for the first one to show that day.
- No tie outs: While the cattle are being exercised, someone is cleaning the beds.
- From there, they go to the wash rack.
- We like to get all of them dry before we feed so we can properly fill them before they show.
- Everyone should be fed, watered and tied down at least an hour before we get them up again.
We figure about two hours to wash & dry, feed & water one. So, if we need to have her down by 8:00 AM, we need to be there by at least 5:30 AM…because something always takes longer than you think. We add more time for more cattle.
Show Day Timing
Your objective is to have them up only as long as it takes to get them dialed. Cattle don’t do well standing for hours.
Consider that if you are fortunate enough to do well, you’ll likely leave your calf standing with a fan on her until she has to show again. If you misjudged and she was ready to go 45 minutes before her first class, she’s going to be pretty tired by the time you get to the final drive.
Sometimes, it’s unavoidable but we want to minimize it. Ideally, she’s ready to roll only a few minutes before you need to head to the ring. But, even the best guys can sometimes misjudge the timing.
When Will I Show?
Generally, you can figure what time you’ll show based on the show start time and what goes ahead of you.
For example, if you have a 9:00 AM show start and you are in one of the first few classes, you’d better plan to be ready to go at 9:00 AM.
If you are further down in the show but there is only one head per class in several of the classes ahead of you, it’s not going to take more than a few minutes per class.
If there are several divisions ahead of you, figure out roughly how long the classes are taking. Of course, division champions will add a bit of time too. All of this will help you with your show day timing.
Plan based on the number of head showing ahead of you, not the number of classes.
The Variables
A big variable is your judge. Some will smoke through classes and some take a while. Worse yet, some start out a little slow and then kick it up a few notches as they get going.
Two separate sets of our friends, who are all incredibly savvy, missed classes at a huge jackpot this spring. They missed them not because they were not prepared, but because the judge sped up significantly. It will happen…
Other variables include:
- How many people you have helping you.
- How fast your help is/you are.
- How well clipped is the calf when you start fitting? If you need to mow on him for a while, plan accordingly.
You work countless hours before the show… don’t let poor planning at the show hinder your potential success.
You don’t have to use our system, but develop a show day timing system for yourself.
If you like this or any of our other articles, please take a moment to share with your friends. Please subscribe to our email list so you don’t miss the next post.
