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September 2006 Showpig Issue
Enjoy the show
by Jennifer Shike
Even though my schedule at the shows doesn’t allow much time for crowd-gazing, I do find a few opportunities here and there. The National Junior Summer Spectacular (NJSS) is one of my favorite shows to “crowd-gaze” because we have so many different types of people and regions represented. This year, members from 30 states participated in our show in Louisville – the largest number ever!
As we look to a busy fall lineup of shows across the country, I thought it was fitting to share a few tips that I learned by watching our members and their families at the NJSS to make your fall showing experience even more enjoyable.
Rest up. It’s interesting to watch how people respond to pressure. Shows are stressful for all involved – whether you are the parent, exhibitor or the pig. While I don’t know any secrets to make shows stress free, I do know that how you respond to the pressures and demands of a show is up to you. You may not be able to avoid challenges and potential problems, but how you respond can make or break your experience.
Rest up before you come to the show. I’m sure there are a few laughs out there – I’m laughing myself. Rest? That’s impossible! How do you rest before a big show? However, do whatever you can to get some sleep. When you are well rested, things just go better. Lack of sleep makes every situation seem worse.
Have your show materials in order. Be organized and plan ahead for what you will need at the show. Gather supplies and equipment in advance and keep your show box well stocked. Keep your show entries in an organized binder with other important materials such as your pedigree, copies of your pedigree, show rules, the NJSA Show Handbook, health papers, copies of your health papers and the most-recent issue of “The Pinnacle.” Knowing where to find these important papers and show supplies will make your show less stressful.
The people who are prepared have more fun and can more easily adapt to the challenges a show may bring.
Help somebody else succeed. This summer, my parents and sisters “adopted” a new showman. Brooke is an ideal kid to “adopt” because she wants to learn and she works very hard with her horse. She’s also very gracious and appreciative. Her family is supportive, too.
However, as I have watched this relationship develop, I’ve seen how much Brooke has helped my family. It’s been a great experience for my sisters to help someone else succeed and has made them better at what they do. Whenever you teach someone else and help them achieve their goals, you make yourself better.
We have tons of new and young NJSA members who would greatly appreciate the expertise of some of our older members and adults in the swine industry. Look around and reach out to someone new. It’s been fun to watch the Mentoring Values People (MVP) program grow and expand. One of my favorite things to watch when I am “crowd-gazing” is an older NJSA member helping a younger NJSA member with their project. When it’s not all about you, it’s better!
Make the most of each moment. Having a baby taught me an important life lesson – to appreciate what life brings each day. It seems like yesterday our baby, Olivia Jane, made her entrance into this world. And already she is cooing, smiling and outgrowing her clothes! I constantly remind myself to enjoy today because it goes by too fast. And in the process, some things may have to wait until tomorrow.
I never imagined I could live this way, but it’s a much better way to live. There will always be things that need to be done and jobs that need to be tackled. But, sometimes we have to let those things go so we don’t miss the most important things of life. When you don’t have time to enjoy the show with your family, take another look at your priorities.
Don’t worry about what the next show will bring with a different judge or how your pig will look with 30 more days on feed. Focus on the show at hand and make the most of the opportunities it brings to spend time with your pig, your family and the great people of this industry.
