He will be better for the experience, if not this show the next.
We hit them with oral probiotics prior to hauling them to help keep their guts working, feeding half their grain ration the night before with free choice hay (most the grain ends up on the floor and walls of the trailer anyway) and then go back to feeding him his full ration once you are there. It is best to keep him on his normal schedule, if you get there in the middle of the day, feed him some hay and then give him his grain ration at the normal evening feeding time.
If you ever pick-up and melatonin or calf calm this is a good time to try it, melatonin hit him with about 30 ml the night before and the calf calm about 2 hours prior to hauling.
Some tricks: when you move him around try and do it with other cattle, they seem to stay calmer when their with other calves, plan your routes around so you can avoid tight spots or areas he is more likely to be spooked. We like to wash early in the morning, muck the stall when they're in the wash rack so they come back to a clean stall. Let them eat and lay down until it is time to get them ready for the show. Give yourself time to get them ready but not so early they have to stand for 2 hours prior to their class, this is when they will try and lie down in the ring on you. If you can avoid it try not to be first in the ring, most calves prefer to follow, makes it easier on the exhibitor if they aren't fighting their calf to just walk.
Watch what others are doing and see what seems to be working for them, never know what tricks you may pick up on as far as grooming or showing in the ring.
Good luck
