Showmanship Questions: The 25 Answers Every Exhibitor Should Have Ready

Judges often ask showmanship questions to learn how well you know your animal. The questions vary by species and age division, so treat the list below as a study guide and adapt it to your project. Short, accurate answers are better than long ones.

Basic facts about your animal

1. What breed is your animal? Know the full breed name and any variety.
2. How old is it? Give age in months or years, and birth date if you know it.
3. How much does it weigh? Know your latest weigh-in and your goal.
4. What is its name or ID? Know tag or tattoo numbers.
5. Where did you get it? Name the breeder and the date you purchased it.

Feeding and care

1. What do you feed it? Name the ration and the amounts.
2. How often do you feed it? Explain your schedule.
3. What is its average daily gain? For market animals, know your numbers.
4. How do you keep it healthy? Mention vaccinations, deworming and cleaning.
5. What would you do if it got sick? Say you would call your veterinarian and isolate the animal.

Anatomy and terms

1. Name parts of the animal. Learn the topline, loin, rump, hock, pastern and similar parts for your species.
2. What are its strengths? Pick two or three honestly.
3. What are its weaknesses? Name one or two honestly and say how you manage them.
4. How can you tell if it is in good condition? Describe body condition scoring.

Quality assurance and safety

1. What is a withdrawal time? Explain that it is the waiting period after medication before the animal can be sold for food.
2. What is biosecurity? Describe practices that prevent disease spread.
3. Why do you keep records? Say records show costs, health and progress.
4. What is Quality Assurance training? Explain that it teaches safe, ethical animal care.

Species and industry

1. What is this animal used for? Meat, milk, fiber, eggs, breeding or work.
2. What are the major breeds in your species? Know a few.
3. What is a retail cut from this animal? Name one or two.
4. How is the animal marketed? Describe the supply chain in simple terms.

Show and personal questions

1. Why did you choose this project? Be specific and sincere.
2. What did you learn this year? Pick one lesson.
3. What will you do differently next year? Show you think about improvement.

How to answer well

• Keep answers short, usually one to three sentences.
• Answer the question asked, not a different one.
• Keep your hands steady on the animal while you speak.
• Use a normal voice and speak clearly.
• If you do not know, say so honestly.

How to practice

Write the questions on index cards and quiz yourself in the barn. Ask a parent, a friend or a club leader to play the judge. Practice answering while leading and setting up, because that is how the real class works.

Final note

A confident answer will not fix a poor setup, and a good setup will not fix a poor answer. Prepare both. The students who study their questions and know their animals are the ones judges remember.

For related reading, see How Showmanship Is Judged. agriculture.directory lists feed stores, vets and suppliers near you, and for a lighter break from fair prep, farm.fm has Greer County Livestock Fair.