Leading the Way

An industry friend lost; his legacy lives on in youth fitting award

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Michael Heath's legacy will not only be an award for top fitting at the World Dairy Expo but the number of lives he touched in his gone-too-soon life.

Leading the Way: 5 steps to optimum show-day hair and hide

katie@agproud.com — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Top showmanship judges look for a clean, shiny animal free of dust and dandruff. A few extra minutes in the barn each day prior to the show can achieve that look for your show animals.

Leading the Way: Ringworm: Facts, fiction and tips for alleviating the issue

katie@agproud.com — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 09:05:48 -0500

Ringworm can be a menace to your show string. Learn more about it in our latest Leading the Way article.

Leading the Way: Herdsmanship – key to looking and showing your best

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:03:29 -0500

We often hear youth talk about showmanship as their favorite part of a show because that outcome is determined by how hard they work, not on the conformation of the calf.

Leading the Way: 3 girls, 2 paths, 1 goal

katie@agproud.com — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 22:21:16 -0400

Emma Finch is a 21-year-old student at the University of Guelph studying crop and animal sciences. She, like many Ontario youth, is an accomplished showperson.

Leading the Way: Rules of the show ring

katie@agproud.com — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

If a player on a basketball court takes two steps while holding the ball, it’s a traveling call. If someone swings at three pitches and misses, it’s an out.

Leading the way: Five steps to the perfect show day fill

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 21:08:04 -0400

There are three things that can bring you to the winner’s backdrop at a show. Here are five steps to a great fill and a blue ribbon.

Leading the Way: Four common sense aspects of showmanship

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:45:32 -0400

It’s been 10 years since the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) in the U.S. looked to Canada and Europe to standardize showmanship rules and guidelines that utilized a “common sense” approach to making animals look their best in the show ring.

Leading the Way: Work hard, play hard – share your talent

katie@agproud.com — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Jayden and Kennedy Kimball of Windham, Maine, are a force to be reckoned with on the softball field and in the show ring. These young dairy exhibitors are intense and dedicated with an incredible work ethic that is taking them to the national stage in both cattle showing and softball.

Leading the Way: Test your show knowledge

katie@agproud.com — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Here’s hoping 2021 will bring back county and state fairs and youth dairy exhibitions. During these winter months, here is an activity to get dairy youth thinking about their projects.

Leading the Way: Dairy judging: Develop the eye for cattle and the ability to articulate it

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 14:00:01 -0500

At every fitting and showmanship clinic, we ask how many people are involved in dairy judging. Sometimes numerous hands go up, and sometimes just a few. Youth who love working with and showing cattle stand to benefit from a dairy judging program.

Leading the Way: Success in the show ring is 365

katie@agproud.com — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 13:00:01 -0400

All across the country this summer and fall, traditional youth shows and county fairs have been canceled. Fortunately, there are dedicated volunteers who have put together backyard shows, virtual shows and regional shows so the dairy youth who work so hard 365 days a year can show off their hard work.

Leading the Way: Hope

katie@agproud.com — Fri, 22 May 2020 19:45:51 -0400

There is no better word to describe this issue’s Leading the Way article than HOPE.

Leading the Way: 5 life skills learned in the show ring

katie@agproud.com — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 14:00:01 -0500

Video games, participation ribbons and obscene amounts of time spent on social media don’t develop work ethic, instill values or build self-esteem. But showing cattle can do all that and more to prepare adolescents and teens for the world ahead.