Challenge:
1. Competitors will first give a demonstration for a judge. The demo should be well presented with some sort of visual aid. The exhibitor should also have full knowledge of the subject presented in the demo and should be able to complete the demo without the use of cue cards.
2. The next step is a written test. Each participant will take a test on their animal and if they choose, they can also take a test for every species, this portion is called Round Robin Testing.
3. Next, exhibitors will be shown a class of market animals. They will look the animals over, place them as if they were in a market class and explain to a judge why they placed the animals like they did. This year we are offering another option to the kids, they may judge all of the animals. This will be called Round Robbin Judging.
4. The next factor is the record book that each exhibitor must turn in, scores from this are added to the scores from the previous events.
5. Placings from showmanship are next
6. Followed by the market placings at the fair
These scores are all added together along to determine who wins.
Age Groups:
At our fair we have 3 age groups: Basic, Novice and Advanced. This age grouping is used throughout the fair.
Prizes:
In the Herdsman Competition there are winners chosen for each species in each age group. Example, there is 1 winner in each age group for lamb, 1 in each for Swine and so on. They are also placed in each age group and species through 7th place. The one that had the highest score in their individual age group receives a belt buckle. Also, the one that has the highest score in the Round Robbin testing for their age group will also receive a belt buckle.
The Herdsman Competition will start in December with the demonstrations. Followed by the testing in February, then the judging in March. And to top it off the fair in April.