Involvement

[IdahoVandal]

Hey,
I'm new to the board but I had a couple questions for anyone who might be able to help. I'm the show chair for the Block & Bridle chapter here at the University of Idaho. We show the purebred Charolais that the U owns. Thing is we are just scraping by finding enough people to come help with shows and sales. We want to not only up the number of members but the number that actually participate. We go to two fairs and one or two bull sales annually. My goal this year was to have more cattle at each fair and have sheep there as well. I know, but I can't help it I love sheep. Well we did up numbers of animals but the number of people didn't go anywhere. We had people interested at first but then they backed out on me.

I have tried having small clinics for those who don't know how to show but want to learn and help out. We also hold a Little International showmanship contest for anyone on campus and we usually can spark interest in a couple people. If you have any suggestions I would be very greatful.

 

[TheBullLady]

I think a lot of time with the juniors showing, if you can have one location for all to keep their calves and work together, it makes it more fun and easier to learn. It's especially hard for kids that have never done it before, and when you're home alone with your animal, harder yet!

Here a lot of the rural FFA or schools have barns and facilities the kids can all use. May have to be someones personal ranch, if that's not an option.

 

[TxSimbrahShower]

I don't know if this would help or not and it wouldn't help right away but maybe in the future.

Some of the colleges here in Texas will have tours put on by their show teams for 4-H'ers and FFA'ers to show them what they do. They also do showmanship and clipping clinics for kids in the surround areas. They also will visit high schools to talk to seniors that are in FFA to try to stir up some interest in their schools and show team.

Like I said this is more for help in the future with new students coming in.