Cyndi's Two Cents

Be a good showman

Commentary

It’s state fair week for many of us in the heartland of America.  One of my favorite events at the both county and state fairs is the livestock showmanship competition. Although the showmanship competition class usually occurs after each respective livestock species competition is complete, a good judge is at work throughout the day, looking to see which exhibitors possess the appearance and behavior of true showmen.

Being a good showman takes time.  Training and grooming before the competition, then presenting the animal in a way that shows off its best attributes.  Even if your show heifer is a bit too flat patterned, pinched in her heart or cut up in her flank, you can still be recognized as the best showman. Not every child will exhibit a Grand Champion, and somebody will place last in class. Showmanship teaches a child to take responsibility, win graciously, and lose with dignity.

Showing cattle or any other species for that matter, usually looks relatively easy if you’re standing outside the show ring at the state fair. The early fairs and preview shows, however, are sometimes more like a rodeo than a cattle show. Green kids and greener calves need time together to learn to trust one another. Halter breaking an animal and training it to walk, stop and “set up” takes a lot of time and patience.

How many times have you walked through the livestock barns at the county fair and found a steer or heifer lying down in the stalls with an adolescent boy or girl stretched out on top of the animal? Although that sort of behavior isn’t going to win them any prizes for showmanship, it tells me this kid knows how to build trust with the animal and has the heart of a stockman.

Many exhibitors, parents and supporters look forward to the annual auction of market animals at the county fair, although not typically for the same reason.  It is the culmination of an awesome experience that teaches young people the responsibilities of raising and selling food animals.

Over the past few months I have witnessed rabid verbal attacks against those who support the constitutional Right to Farm in Missouri, adopted in 2014. It reads:

Section 35. That agriculture which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouri’s economy. To protect this vital sector of Missouri’s economy, the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state, subject to duly authorized powers, if any, conferred by article VI of the Constitution of Missouri.

I have seen neighbor pitted against neighbor and words written on social media sites that could have long-lasting effects on personal relationships.  This is an emotional and personal issue for many of who farm and ranch and want to ensure a place for the next generation of agriculturalists.

Anti-agriculture activist gangs with deep pockets have mixed the Kool-Aid.  Many people drank it down and asked for more.  How long before the influence of those activist groups reaches a point where you take it personally? As I review proposed health ordinances limiting the expansion of family livestock and poultry farms, I once again wonder why we, a collective group involved in farming, did not get ahead of this train. Had we all made a conscious effort to educate our non-farm neighbors about what really happens on our farms – and why – things might be a lot different than they are today.