It’s Time to Bridge the Gap Between the Show Ring and Production Ag
By Rebecca Keel Stack, onboarding and training manager at The Maschhoffs
Livestock shows have long been a celebrated tradition where youth showcase their skills and expertise in handling and presenting animals. These events not only provide an avenue for competition, but also serve as a stepping stone towards a career in production agriculture.
However, there is a gap between the show ring experience and the endless opportunities within the commercial production agricultural industry. Recognizing this gap is the first step towards creating opportunities to bridge it and foster a stronger connection between youth livestock showmanship and production agriculture.
Create educational events for youth.
An avenue for bridging the gap is through educational workshops and seminars. Showmanship competitions often focus on the presentation and handling of animals but may not delve deep into the intricacies of livestock production like an educational event can.
“Being involved with 4-H and FFA gave me the opportunity to listen to a variety of speakers on the commercial and small farming side. I was also able to attend Farm Bureau youth leadership conferences and participated in different seminars and workshops with keynote speakers on a variety of agricultural topics,” says Taylor Grapperhaus, operations specialist at The Maschhoffs.
Collaborations between livestock show organizers, agricultural Extension services and industry experts are great ways to help facilitate these educational opportunities.
Encourage youth to raise and care for show pigs.
Raising show pigs is another way young people can gain fundamental knowledge related to swine and livestock production. There are several transferable skills and knowledge such as stockmanship that can be applied to commercial production.
Paul Ayers, animal care manager at The Maschhoffs, emphasizes the need to continue to expose youth to the opportunities beyond the show pig industry and help them understand the career opportunities within commercial production.
“This all starts through local involvement, sponsorship and support of local 4-H/FFA clubs, sponsorship of youth leadership programs, and offering internships, externships, and work experiences to help get people exposed to commercial production,” Ayers says.
Expose youth to on-farm learning experiences.
Furthermore, internships and on-farm experiences can provide invaluable hands-on learning opportunities. Showmen can spend time working on farms, observing and participating in daily operations. These experiences allow them to witness the challenges faced by farmers, gain practical skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the hard work involved in production agriculture.
Bridging the gap between the youth show ring experience and production agriculture is crucial for creating a pipeline of skilled and knowledgeable individuals who can contribute to the agricultural industry. Youth development programs, educational workshops and on-farm experiences provide promising opportunities to integrate the showmanship aspect with the practicalities of agricultural production.
By nurturing this connection, I believe we can empower the next generation of agricultural leaders, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for the industry.
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