So, you think you want to try showing your cattle? Great! It is a lot of hard work, but it’s fun and can be very rewarding and a great way to advertise your cattle. It is a year-round process. Let’s get started! Here is a step-by-step method of cattle showing. It may work for you or it may not. Here are some ideas.

January-February-March
The calves are born. It is always very exciting! Time to evaluate each one. Pick the one or two you like the best and watch how they grow.
 

This little guy was selected early on, and lived up to his promise when he was named Reserve Grand Champion Bull at Expo in the fall.

Calves step on their drag rope a few times and then remember to halt when the halter is tugged!

April-May-June
Keep evaluating! Watch all the calves as they grow. Watch how they walk. 
     Do their legs criss-cross as they move? Or do they stand with both hocks together? Or do they stop square with their heads up? Are the ones you liked at first still the ones you like the best now?
     If you can, start to creep feed your calves. A little bit of feed will get them off to a great start. 
     In May, I like to slick shear my yearling and two-year-old show cattle. This gets that old, dingy hair off and lets a new hair coat grow in. If you do it now, they will have enough hair by show time.

July-August
Weaning time! Now the real work begins! Time to get the calves vaccinated, wormed and tattooed. It is very important to vaccinate and worm your calves. Healthy calves grow much faster and put on weight better than ones that have not been treated. Plus, it is very important to give your calves a chance to build up immunity to disease before going to a show where they will be exposed to all kinds of things.
     Now it is time to get them halter broke. Put the halters on and let them drag the rope for three days. Then start tying them up for a couple of hours at a time (it is always a good idea to keep an eye on them the first couple of times you do this).
     Now make the final cut. Pick one or two that you think are your best calves. Are they still the ones you liked in the beginning? A lot can change in five or six months. Remember if you are showing a bull calf to check his testicles. Have both testes descended? A male must have two to be shown as a bull. If not, have the vet castrate him and show him as a steer.
     Get your calves on feed. They will need feed to be good show cattle. Talk to your vet or feed rep to decide what type and amount is right for your animals.
     Now is the time to get your calves registered! Get the registration applications in now so that you will have certificates back in time to fill out the entry forms for the show. 

August-September
Your show is about four weeks away. You have filled out your entry form and sent it in. By now your calves should be halter broke and walking well with you. Make a bed of straw along the wall in your barn or stall. Put tie rings on the wall about two feet off the ground. Here you will tie your calves (it is best if they have a buddy with them) during the day. They will get feed and hay here while tied up. Lead them out for water once or twice during the day. Put a fan on to keep them cool. They need to get used to living as they do at a show so it won’t be a shock to their systems when they get there. Have a radio playing during the day to get them used to the noise and other people’s voices. 
     Once a day for about an hour or two, tie your calves so their heads are up and they can’t lie down. They are going to have to get used to this, because they will have to stand in the ring and the chute for long periods of time. It is best to build up their strength and tolerance now, not at the show.
     Now it is time to work hair! Every morning, I wash or rinse their hair. Then I blow them dry,  blowing the hair on the body forward. The hair on the legs gets blown upward. It will take a few times for your calf to get used to the washing and blowing, but it is better they do it here at home than at a show.
     It is also important to run that comb over the coat a few times a day. Do not use shampoo on your calves more than once a week or it will dry out their coats. Just rinse in between shampooings.
     Now is the time to get out that show stick and get them used to it. Practice squaring up your calf. Have a partner help you. Stack up your calf, then let the partner hold him while you back up to see how he looks. Does he look good from the judge’s perspective? It can take some practice getting it right.

September
Show time! It is the final week before the show. Check those tattoos one last time. Can you read them? If not, chances are the folks at the show can’t, either. If you have to, put a tattoo in the other ear. But make sure you can read the tattoo! 
     You will also need health papers from your veterinarian. Make sure you have those or you won’t be showing your calf.
     Whether you clip your cattle or have a fitter do it, now is the time to do that last-minute clipping. Put your calf in the grooming chute and get him clipped. It is best to shave heads at home. Clipping now gives the hair a chance to do a little growing to work out any lines or mistakes you might make.
     It is three days until you leave for the show. Get that trailer packed! You will need a lot of gear for showing. Here is a list of things you will need. Different shows need different things. Talk to someone who has been to the show for advice on what to bring. Here is a list of the basics:
 

Whatever you do, don’t forget your Registration Certificates and Health Papers. 
     And once you get all this loaded, don’t forget your cattle! 
     Now, go have fun! Meet new people that share the same interests. Hopefully, sell some cattle, too--that is what it’s all about. Remember, no one wins all the time. Win, lose or draw, be a good sport. Congratulate the winner. One day, it might be you!