This summer while on the junior national road, our team took the opportunity to speak to over 500 juniors and their families at 13 juniors nationals to see just what matters to exhibitors and attendees of these weeklong events. We have compiled a list of the top 9 junior national must haves as reported by the people of this great industry.
Air Conditioning is our Friend
We all know that mother nature is not predictable, sometimes junior nationals are mild and sometimes they are miserably hot. From the feedback we received, air conditioning was one of highest priorities for exhibitors. That sweet AC is a must in all show rings and then south of the Midwest is definitely desired in the barns. A cool barn helps keep all the families and cattle more comfortable and in turn helps keep the overall moral of the exhibitors high. Extreme heat can impact the turn out of the event and can majorly disrupt breeding programs from heifers slipping calves. We received many reports this year of heifers aborting their calves as a result of heat stress on them.
Location, Location, Location
Each year it is exciting to find out the location the next year’s event. Families said that they want variety in locations so they can experience different cultures, but not at the expense of breed participation. One exhibitor mentioned that they had went to 7 states since they were exhibiting at junior nationals and really liked those experiences. The moral of the story….centrally located events in fun, family friendly towns that make sense to breed population and popularity are preferred.
Family Friendly Fun
One of the most mentioned aspects that people felt make junior nationals memorable is family friendly activities. Events offered throughout the day such as tailgate parties, ice cream socials and herdsman parties, allow everyone including parents and breeders a chance to bond with others and foster relationships that will last for many years. Meals were also of importance to many exhibitors; the convenience of having good meals that reflect the culture of the region located on the grounds is great. Meals also serve as a way for juniors to fellowship with others and build lasting relationships. Combine with a quality hospitality and fun play area for the younger attendees and you have an A+ event.
Schedule
Much like cattle we are creatures of habit. Keeping the schedules consistent from year to year helps families to better plan their trips and schedule that all-important family vacation to their favorite junior national. Families and breeders alike said the ideal show day was Saturday to allow extended family members a chance to attend without missing work. A Saturday show day also allows all exhibitors to travel home on a Sunday. Another thing to consider is the exhibitor crossover between certain breeds. For instance many Hereford juniors also show Angus, the same with, Shorthorns and Maine-Anjou/Chi. Many exhibitors had hoped that associations would work together to not have conflicting dates so juniors wouldn’t have to decide between which event to attend.
Show Coverage
There are many different ways to experience a junior national, whether it is from ringside or in the comfort of your own bed. Live broadcast with details of each winner including the sire and dam, and live commentary is a great, added feature to an event. Many Angus breeders commented on their love for the live broadcasting of their show. We also found juniors like seeing photos from throughout the event on The Pulse, Breed Association Facebook pages and all the different forms of social media.
Prizes
We found that exhibitors like prizes that fall into two different categories: unique and useful. From comfortable lawn chairs and show supplies to unique belt buckles, banners, and custom home furnishings. Everyone wants to have something that lets people know they won big at their breeds biggest show.
Spread the Love
There was a consistent theme of appreciation for breeds placing a top 5 overall female due to the extreme depth in the competition. A few had commented that a banner is not costly compared to the prestige that a top 5 title brings. Additionally, some junior nationals allow cow/calf pairs to show with heifers and that was another heavily discussed topic. Exhibitors overwhelmingly responded saying that while they love watching the cow/calf pair show they think they should be kept separate from showing with the heifers.
Common Sense Show Success
Everyone appreciates rules, they make everything work and run smoothly. Making the rules easy to understand and follow can take a lot of stress off everyone. The general feeling was that the association staff was the glue holding junior nationals together. Between a great staff, tremendous state volunteers and generous sponsors there is endless opportunities for fun. To quote Lindsey Broek from the American Maine-Anjou Association, “volunteers are a HUGE part of the team and TEAMWORK is key to a successful event.” Communication is another very important part of a successful week, Darla Aegerter who is an assistant for the American Hereford Association, as well as having worked with the planning committee for past American Shorthorn Association events said “communication from the Association or State committee to the exhibitors and parents ahead of the junior national week of what you need to know is key.”
Presented to Perfection….the show.
An often-overlooked element of junior nationals is the way the venue is transformed from a generic arena to a spectacular stage to present your cattle on. Comments from attendees prove that a unique show ring brings an added level of prestige and excitement to the event. Amy Cowan, Youth Activities Director for the American Hereford Association, known for having one of the best show rings said “a nice, well put together area to show your cattle in is sets the tone for the event.”
The most important thing about attending a junior national is to thank the breed association staff and state volunteers, without them it would not be possible. If you enjoy attending junior nationals get involved as a volunteer and help make a difference.