It’s officially summer in the show barn, and that only means one thing – It’s Junior National time! Junior National shows across the United States is definitely an eventful highlight for many livestock exhibitors during the summer months along with our staff here at Sullivan Supply®!

These events give the opportunity to young people and their families to travel across the United States to exhibit and showcase the cattle they have worked on all spring and early summer. Even though you are attending for the show, young people also have the opportunity to participant in personal growth contests, such Public Speaking or Showmanship, and continue to learn through educational clinics at the show, like clinics hosted by Stock Show University®. But most importantly, this week can be used to build life-long connections and relationships with other participants within the breed.

Even though Junior Nationals is considered a vacation for most livestock families, this vacation might be more stressful than a vacation to the beach.  Anytime you and your family travel as a group and with livestock on the trailer, it can be a stressful situation for everyone involved. During this Stock Show University® tip, we plan on sharing some helpful advice with you and your family, so you all can survive this Junior National season!

• Junior National week might be overwhelming, regardless if this is your first junior national or your last. Knowing this beforehand can help with you being nervous and know you are not the only one feeling this way. If you have any questions throughout the week over anything regarding the show, be sure to politely ask show staff or a junior board member. They have dedicated months preparing and planning for this week to be a pleasant experience for you and your family, so they are always willing to help out an exhibitor. 

• Look at the week’s schedule and mark out all the activities that you are participating in or activities that you are wanting to attend. Like everything in life, things come up, and you have to adapt around them, but this will give you a rough schedule that you and your family can prepare for during the week. Be sure to relax throughout the week as well, so you are not burned out once show day arrives. To check for updates or schedule changes during the week, check out the social media outlets for your breed and The Pulse, Powered by Sullivan Supply!

• Check out the Sullivan Supply® Trailer and all the Sullivan Supply® sponsored events that we have in store for you all! A Sullivan Supply® representative at the trailer will always be willing with assist you with any question you may have about product knowledge or techniques how to properly use of products. Also, be sure to attend the “Livestock Loot Giveaway” to have a chance to win some spending cash to use at the Sullivan Supply’s Stock Market Fan Shop. Last but not least, be sure to attend the Stock Show University’s educational clinics to learn from some of the best in the industry on the latest fitting techniques and tends.

• Double check that you have packed the essentials for the cattle and the people. For the humans – don’t forget phone chargers, plenty of cool clothes, professional show clothes, snacks and drinks, and a positive, cheerful attitude. For the cattle, be sure to pack all the summer weather essentials – such as Restore Pro, Turbo Fans, Smart Buckets, and Sullivan’s Appetite Express. If you happen to need any of these items once you are at the show, head over to the Sullivan Supply Trailer to have one of our sale representatives assist you. Also, remember to pack all the important paperwork that you might need during the week such as registration breed papers, health papers, and copies of your entries. Tip: Create a self-packing list days before you leave and check off the items once they are packed in the truck or on the trailer.

• Review the rule book. This is never a bad idea to do, regardless of the show you are going to. Just like one of the previous bullet points – if you have any questions about a rule in the rule book or just need clarification of the rule, reach out to show staff or a junior board member to receive clarification for a resourceful source!

Be sure to have a FANTASTIC and SAFE experience at the Junior National Show you are attending this summer!

For more tips and video tutorials from Stock Show University®, visit https://www.sullivansupply.com/stock-show-u/online/