Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
SHEPHERD STORY REVISITED
The Judge
R
OD CROME'S PARENTS
ran a diverse livestock farm in southern
Illinois and his father was a well-known and well-respected showman and
breeder of sheep. Rod followed in his father's footsteps — quite literally — from
the time he was 3 years old, accompanying his father to shows throughout the
United States.
Rod's own career in showing began with 4-H, and by the time he was in
high school, he was showing in open classes at state fairs around the United
States. Rod still spends time in the ring, but now he's often there as a judge.
He has judged at national shows and state fairs throughout the country, and he
works at the Slack family farm in Indiana, a major producer of some of the top-
performing club lambs nationally.
Ten years ago, Rod told me, “When I'm judging, I know the kids are a little
nervous, but what they need to think about is that the show is really about the
sheep! The judge spends 90 percent of his or her time looking at the sheep
and studying them and only about 10 percent of the time actually handling the
sheep. You'll get the attention of a judge by being proud of your animal, not by
'overshowing.'”
Rod stands by that now, reiterating that the top exhibitors are the ones who
exude competence, which comes with hours and hours and hours of practice. “It
is usually quite easy to tell who have been putting in the time with their animals
in prep for the show season,” he says. “The top showmen make showing look
totally natural, like they and their animals are truly a unit.”
the training, lambs of this age are very good candidates for halter training.
Children who are trying to train a lamb for the fi rst time should be care-
fully supervised, so they don't hurt it. Conversely, a mature sheep should be
trained by an adult to protect the child. Halters can be purchased or made
out of rope.
Sheep are led from the sheep's left side. Hold the lead rope close to the hal-
ter, usually about 1 foot (30 cm) from the sheep's head. Begin walking forward.
At fi rst Fluffy will pull back against the halter and fi ght the movement.
Once Fluffy begins to get the hang of walking willingly on a halter and
lead rope, have your helper work with you to acclimatize her to the noises
and sights of a show ring. While you walk with Fluffy, your helper can make
noise, rustle paper, or shake a jacket just at the edge of her fl ight zone (where
