New Teacher Survivor Series

Part #3 - What are my responsibilities regarding livestock shows and booster clubs?

Introduction:  Livestock projects, livestock shows, and booster clubs can be wonderful and they can be your worst nightmare.  Competition and money always seem to bring out the worst in some people.  However, you can cut down on some of the problems that may arise by being organized and systematic in the way your handle things.

This information sheet contains suggestions dealing with purchasing and obtaining livestock show projects, organizing your local show, being organized at all livestock shows and dealing with booster clubs.

In the end, it will all boil down to you being organized and in charge.  If you are not ready, there will be trouble…and it will not be pretty.  But, if you are ready, it can be as great of an experience as you knew it would.

1. Be in charge at all times.  It is important for everyone to get instructions from you.  This doesn't mean you have to tell them how to groom animals, but it could.  The important things are, times to be places, when to leave, how livestock will get to the show, when you are leaving to eat or going to the motel.  It also includes when to feed, wash, weigh, etc.  Don't sit in a lawn chair spouting orders.  Be up and moving, helping, and directing.

2. Your leadership begins before you go to the show.  You are responsible for informing and sending entries to the appropriate shows.  You need to make all arrangements if you stay the night.  All your exhibitors should do the same thing, all go or all stay.  In addition, you should always have a designated time to meet and load or meet at the show.  You should schedule and inform students when you will be out to get their animals if they don't have transportation for their project.  If it is a local or county show you want to have a time for them to be there.  If it is a state, regional, jackpot or a show you will travel to, all should convoy together.

3. Never take a large group by yourself.  Have some parents come along and help chaperone.

4. Never take the opposite gender by yourself to a show or any other activity.  Never be seen or be in the Ag truck with the opposite gender by yourself.  Never be at the show, contest, or left in the Ag building with the opposite gender by yourself.  If you have to go 20 miles out of the way to drop off the last of the opposite gender and then back track to take that student home that is the same gender, you will be better safe than sorry.  Be very careful.

5. Loading and unloading, penning and stalling set the tone of how students and parents will look at your leadership skills.  Be organized.  Have a routine you follow at every show.  Have all students showing the species work as a team to get the pens or stalls ready. Then unload together.  If you start off working as a team, you might cut down on some of the jealousy that occurs.  Do the same thing for weighing and washing.  Organize the troops, give them directions and assignments and then oversee with hands-on help.

6. It is extremely important that you are involved in all aspects of the show and all species.  Don't let others do your job.  Later, you can delegate more of the responsibility.  However, the first couple of years, you should be everywhere.  This doesn't mean you wash or clip or feed every animal.  But, you are there supervising, teaching and sometimes doing.  This may sound different than what you see others doing.  Remember, some of those teachers have set the tone several years ago and are reaping the rewards.  Those struggling with bickering, jealousy and a lack of teamwork will wish they had followed these suggestions.

7. Local show: A local livestock show can build teamwork and community or it can tear it down.  A local livestock show should be a friendly competition, a learning experience, and a chance for you to set trends in how things are done. 

8. Make an agenda for the local show that includes times for when animals will be in place, when weighing will occur, and when each species will be shown.  Follow a similar format to how it has been done in the past.  You can add little things; however, you don't want to make big changes in the show right off the bat.

9. Also, you, set some ground rules for washing and grooming of animals.  For example: No washing, clipping or grooming of animals the day of the show with exception of combing or brushing of hair.  This will eliminate fighting over wash racks, clippers, chutes, stands and everything else.  You can set other ground rules as you see fit.

10. Set a time to give all exhibitors, parents and those helping instructions of how you want the show to run and remind them of the ground rules.

11. Let the students and parents do all of the grooming and dressing at the local show.  Make this the number 1 ground rule.  Your responsibilities will be to weigh, break classes, and make sure everyone has what they need.  You will also need to make sure no one is left to fend for him or herself.  Young exhibitors or exhibitors whose parents don't participate, will need your help. 

12. Designate and coordinate with one person for each species to run the ring and have one or two others designated to help with gates, etc.  This person needs to be someone you have much faith in.  You don't want them running the whole show, just the ring for that species.

13. Trophies, money, and concessions for the local show are important.  Everyone wants to know who gets how much.  Make the local show as even as possible.  Trophies or plaques represent the winners and even money represents hard work.  Let the county premium sale or what ever you have separate the money, not the local show.  Remember that you are building teamwork.

14. Here is a suggestion.  Every student who exhibits at the local stock show receives $50, no matter what they show.  Plaques are given for all grands, reserves, champions, & res. champions as you see fit.

15. Grooming, clipping, feeding, etc.  The rules are simple.  You will need to know how to clip, groom and feed show projects.  If you don't, find someone who will let you practice.  Ask your neighboring Ag Ed teacher or call your District Supervisor.  Learn by listening and watching.  Also, ask the parents who are successful what and how much they are feeding.  Not so they teach you, but so you get an idea of what to tell other students who don't know.  Never let them know you are clueless.  However, keep from coming on like an expert.  Be confident and remember there is always something to learn.

16. Booster clubs will become a problem if you let them.  Mac DeVelbiss, respected retiredAg Ed instructor, joked that; "Booster clubs are necessary; however, don't let them meet and don't elect officers".  You must direct the booster club like you direct your FFA chapter.

17. Don't let parents control what activities are done and when they happen.  You can allow them to do some things on their own.  But, be careful. Make sure that you have the final word on all activities.  Remember they are in it for their kid.

18. The booster club should do the work, not you.  You approve the plan and the activity.  They work.  You should be doing your Ag Ed job, not raising money.  Be there to help only. Be seen at all booster club functions and be at all booster club meetings.  Remember they meet on your schedule.

19. Money is the root of all problems when dealing with booster clubs.  Make money a non-issue.  Set the range of money ahead of time so all will know the base line.  For example: County premium sale list of awards: Each beef animal in the sale will receive $350; each swine in the sale will receive $250; each sheep in the sale will receive $250; If the animal is purchased by someone other than the booster club, the exhibitor will receive $150 add on money.  If the animal is Grand or Res. Grand, money will be elevated by $250.  Any money left over could be divided among all exhibitors.

20. Fund raisers should be limited.  Problems arise with concession stands, etc. Discussion will soon center around who deserves the money because their parents worked.

21. Make being a member of the booster club an honor and an appreciated role.  Give them thanks at the banquet, maybe even certificates.

22. If possible, don't start a booster club.  Parents will help even if they are not called boosters.

Final word: Livestock shows are one of the most fun and rewarding activities for an Ag Ed instructor.  However, livestock shows can also be one of the most stressful and problem causing activities.  Just as you begin the year organized, always be organized, have a routine to follow, make all of the decisions, and be in charge at all stock shows.

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