Why You Should Be One of the BEST

The Ohio Cattlemen's Association has given us a great opportunity by adding a class for miniature cattle at the BEST shows.  With this great opportunity comes great responsibility.  If we want to continue to gain opportunities to show our cattle and to promote the miniature cattle industry, we have to be willing to put ourselves out there and to utilize the opportunities that we already have.

So what is so great about the BEST program and why should you be a part of it?

• It is a family affair - We load and unload the trailer together, we wash, dry and clip together, we are there on the sidelines as our kids show, we eat together, sometimes we have a long truck ride together, we freeze together and we win and lose together.  Some of our fondest memories are of the 3 hour ride in the truck or the nights we eat pizza in our hotel room.  The point is...we are together.  In these busy days of life, it is very difficult to find the time to spend together as a family.  The BEST program has afforded us the opportunity to pencil in a weekend on the calendar where we know that we will all be together and all working toward the same goal.  

Trying to stay warm in the barn

A photo posted by Dan Wiley (@4wileyfarm) on Jan 4, 2014 at 5:37am PST

• Great friends - We are fortunate to show with approximately 15 kids from Knox County.  Fifteen kids, their parents, their friends and younger siblings.  We have quite a group.  Most of these people we barely knew (if at all) before becoming a part of the BEST program.  Now we all see the good, the bad and the ugly (manure from head to toe) of each other....but we are all a big family. 
  

Show friends selfie #OHBeefExpo15

A photo posted by Red Hawk Farm (@redhawkfarms) on Mar 22, 2015 at 12:00pm PDT

Great night yesterday with the cattle family yesterday

A photo posted by Anthoney Verhovec (@averhovec) on Sep 6, 2015 at 5:26am PDT

• Learn - We have all learned so much since being a part of the BEST program.  The kids are fine- tuning their showmanship skills, learning grace, learning respect for their animals and each other, learning about the cattle industry, learning to care for their cattle, learning to clip....I could go on and on.
  

• Learn to Clip and Fit - We are by no means experts in clipping and fitting.  However, we have come a long way.  Week in and week out we try, beg for help from those around us, and little by little we are improving.  We have a long way to go, but practice makes perfect, and all winter long we are forced to practice. 

• Showmanship Experience - The showmanship classes are top notch and you can't expect to win (unless you are super good).  Most times our kids don't even make it to the final round.  Even though they aren't at the top of their class, they have made incredible improvement.  Words cannot describe the difference in each of the kids that we show with.  Some days they leave the ring feeling defeated, but each time they are learning and growing.  The judges are very helpful and give very specific things for the kids to work on.  The great thing is that they don't have to remember those pointers for next year...they get to practice them tomorrow...and next week.  If you add one new skill each show, by the end of the season you have made huge advancements.  Not only are you improving each show as a showman, but your cow is improving each show and together you are forming a better team. 
  

A photo posted by Dan Wiley (@4wileyfarm) on Jan 10, 2015 at 6:53am PST

• Outstanding Judges - Each show has 2 different judges from all over the country.  Not only does this give you the opportunity to meet some of the most knowledgeable people in the cattle industry, but you are also given the opportunity to compare opinions.  Judging is all about one man's opinion on one particular day.  Each judge likes something different.  Some days you are exactly what they like and other days...not so much.  If you don't like the judge's opinion, move on to the next ring and you might like that judge's opinion better...or not.  If you take the opportunity to spend some time watching the shows and listening to the judge's comments, you can glean years of knowledge from people who are the leaders and innovators in the industry.  We have been privileged to be judged by some of the greats like Kirk Stierwalt, Bobby May, and many more.

• Learn to Win and Lose with Grace - Sometimes losing is hard to swallow, but we all have to go through it at some point in our lives.  When you show with your friends, sometimes you lose to those friends.  It is very important to us that our kids learn to lose with grace.  We always encourage our kids to congratulate the winners of their class.  It is not always easy....especially when you may not agree with the judge...but, it helps to keep the bad attitude in check, helps them learn to be gracious and fosters a spirit of true joy for the one that won.  On the flip side, we also want our kids to learn to win with grace.  It is o.k. to be excited for a win, but there is a fine line between excitement and gloating.  Sometimes this is really hard, especially when you have been beat by those same people time and time again.  There are always winners that are hated, but you can be one of the winners that is loved and everyone is rooting for.  It's all about the spirit....it doesn't always just happen...sometimes it is learned.
  

• It's Just Fun - When was the last time that you just had fun?  I know...there is a ton of work involved and most weekends we come home completely exhausted, but we always have fun.  We have made lots of good memories and it's what we talk about even when we are at home.  We are making lasting memories for our kids and they will share these stories with their children. 
  

Are you on the fence?  I can promise you that you will not regret being a part of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association BEST program.  It is a well run and organized program that I know you will be as impressed with as we are.

As the credit card commercials would say...Priceless!