AJSA E DUCATIONAL C ONTEST G UIDE The First-Timer’s Handbook
The educational contest requirements of AJSA Regional and National Classic events can seem overwhelming to first-time contestants. These contests are nothing to fear for newcomers to the group; this guide will serve as your personal guide to contest preparation. After you read the prep guide you will no longer be just a first-timer but a prepared contestant.
From Little Hands, to Big Leaders; Grow with the American Junior Simmental Association
The AJSA Welcomes You to the Journey
AJSA EDUCATIONAL CONTEST GUIDE The First-Timer’s Handbook AJSA Regional and National Classics require all contestants to participate in three of the four offered educational contests in order to compete in the cattle show. The contests are a medium for personal development and achievement, aimed not only at producing the next generation of agriculturists but a well-rounded individual. Boring as it may sound to some, these contests are opportunities for you to stretch yourself, interact with peers, earn recognition through awards, and to meet lasting industry contacts. The skills and knowledge that you will gain from active participation in these contests will last you far past the end of the awards banquet; they will serve you well for the rest of your life. Whether it is in your summer job, a college speech course, a marketing internship, or just everyday interaction with others, you will be at the top of your game; all because of this first step you have taken in participating in educational contests at AJSA Regional and National Classics. Despite how stressful and overwhelming competing in these events for the first time can be, try to remember throughout the Classic that you are working toward a better you. The real winner at the end of the event is the competitor that did their personal best and enjoyed the journey. This guide should serve to steady your first step and help you to a find yourself prepared for an enjoyable week of competition.
Table of Contents Cattlemen’s Quiz
2-3
Public Speaking
4-5
Sales Talk
6-7
Livestock Judging
8-10
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Cattlemen’s Quiz This is not your ordinary test. Think of it as an opportunity to let your hard-earned cow-sense shine through. Release your inner herdsman through the tip of a number two pencil. This educational contest is not only aimed at testing you but it is pointed at teaching you valuable herdsman knowledge that lasts a lifetime. The cattlemen’s quiz is administered in a large room on site at the event; you can come straight from the barn to take the quiz. All participants will take the quiz at the same time. Each contestant age division (junior, intermediate, and senior) will be provided with an age appropriate quiz. The quizzes will be laid out on the tables, face down, when you enter the room. Junior contestants will need to sit at a blue quiz, intermediate a green, and seniors at yellow; instructions on the following will be given before you are allowed to enter the test-taking area. Your contestant number will be required as written identification on the quiz; familiarize yourself with this number as you’ll need it in all of the educational contests. When you’re finished you will turn in your answer sheet; you can take your actual test with you when you are done. Answer keys will be provided at the conclusion of the awards banquet.
General Rules:
The quiz will consist of 50 multiple choice and true/false questions.
One and one half hour will be allowed for contestants to complete the quiz. Remaining time warnings will be provided to contestants.
Contestants may not bring notes, books, or reference materials into testing area. All necessary materials will be provided, including quiz questions, answer sheet, and a number two pencil. High-lighters are permitted, but not provided.
Necessary Materials:
One number two pencil will be provided; but, feel free to bring your own. Highlighters can prove useful for the Sire Summary portion of the quiz, these are not provided. Yourself, your contestant number, and your thinking cap
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Preparatory Action:
Lucky for you, the most valuable preparation for the cattlemen’s quiz is something you have already done; accruing first-hand experience in the cattle industry. Major subject areas covered in the quiz include: o Animal Breeding and Genetics o ASA and AJSA Organizations o Beef Anatomy and Physiology o Beef Health and Disease o Behavior o Current Beef Industry Events o Management Techniques o Nutrition and Feedstuffs o Simmental Breed History o Spring 2014 Sire Summary Your second most important study reference will be www.juniorsimmental.org, here you will find an AJSA Classics tab leading you to Study Materials. This page will provide links to online resources pertaining to the previous list of subject areas. Further study resources include: 4-H Skills for Life Series (designed for younger members and available for purchase from the ASA office), past Cattlemen’s Quizzes, the Register, and www.simmental.org. Familiarize yourself with the Simmental Sire Summary, located in the ASA’s publication SimTalk. Learn the basics of how to read the Sire Summary (it’s trickier than you might think!).
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Public Speaking In a world of Facebook, Twitter, and texting, oral communication is still critical. This contest harnesses the inner-communicator in you. The most exciting part of the contest is that you will get to speak about beef related topics; something that you are already passionate and knowledgeable about. The idea of giving a speech can be nerve wracking, but this contest is nothing to fear; instead it is a medium to unveil the hard-wired, golden communication gene present in those of your generation. The public speaking contest is typically held either at the headquarter hotel or at the fairgrounds. You will be assigned a time-slot indicating the time that you are required to report to the contest area and begin speech preparation. Once you have arrived, you will report to the contestant checkin table at the entrance. An AJSA Trustee will assist you with drawing three cards from a pile. Each one of the cards will be labeled with a potential speech topic; you will then get the chance to choose one of the three to speak upon. You will be provided with a corresponding informational packet on the selected topic and two index cards that may be used however you wish as notes for the speech. You will be given 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to prepare for your speech in the preparation area.
After your 30 minutes are up, a Trustee will call you to the front. They will collect your informational packet, hand you your score sheets which you will give to the judges, and a volunteer will escort you to your room. To complete the contest, you will deliver a 3-7 minute long speech to two judges and a timer in a private room. At the conclusion of your speech, you are free to leave. The judges comment sheets will be available to you at the conclusion of the awards banquet. General Rules:
Contestants will speak on a topic selected in a random drawing. Three cards will be drawn; from those three one will be selected on which to speak. Contestants will report to a preparation room at their posted scheduled speaking time to draw their topic. 30 minutes of speech preparation time will be allotted to each contestant . Contestants will receive a specially prepared information packet on the selected topic and two 3x5 note cards. No other reference materials will be allowed . Speeches will be three to seven minutes in length. Time elapsed will be posted during the speech so that contestants are aware of timing. Speakers who finish before three
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minutes have elapsed, or who run past seven minutes, will be penalized 1 point for each second over/under. Following the speech, time will be allowed for questions from the judges. This question time will not be counted into the overall speech time. Contestants will be judged on: subject knowledge (20 percent), organization (10 percent), presentation (40 percent), response to questions (20 percent), and general effectiveness (10 percent) There will be different, age appropriate topics for each of the age divisions.
Necessary Materials:
Contestants will be provided with an informational packet on their selected topic and regulation index cards for speech notes. Bring a writing utensil for the note-taking process along with you. Suggested dress for this contest is business casual, for example: khakis, dress pants, button-down shirts, sweaters, dresses, skirts, etc.
Preparatory Action:
Speeches are not prepared or extemporaneous in nature. Meaning, preparation does not play a large role in this particular contest. Communication and speech courses could prove as valuable practice. Familiarization on subject material including, but not limited to: the history and development of Simmental and Simbrah cattle, principals of breeding, selling, customer service, managing of beef cattle, and common beef diseases can prove valuable. Remember though, an informational packet on subject material will be provided during the contest. Research on effective public speech giving techniques can increase confidence and decrease nerves. The internet has a vast number of resources on this topic . Most important, relax. This contest is nothing to make an individual sweat. Remember it is a short speech, given in a private setting, and all necessary resources will be provided to you at speech time. You are taking a large step of preparation by reading this and familiarizing yourself with the contest.
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Sales Talk This contest is more than just a sales pitch. It is a chance for you to showcase your knowledge of your animal to two “potential buyers”. Buying and selling are very integral parts of all facets of the beef industry and other businesses alike. This contest will allow you the opportunity to practice the integral business art of selling in a safe and fun mock environment. The Sales Talk contest will be held in the show ring. Like public speaking, you will again be assigned a time-slot indicating the time that your individual sales talk will begin. You will need to report to the make-up area five minutes earlier with a fellow AJSA member to serve as a handler during the contest, and your registration certificate. There you will report to the contestant check-in table. An AJSA Board member will provide you with two score sheets which you will present to your judges, a card indicating which judges station you will report to in order to give you sales talk, and provide you with any other further clarification that you may need. An ASA staff member will be in the make-up area to direct you to the proper station. Once you and all of the other contestants in the round are positioned comfortably in front of their judge’s stations in the show ring, the official timer will alert the group that “time is in” and you may begin. You will be given 5 to 7 minutes to complete your sales pitch. The official timer will provide you with a 2-minute warning so you can begin to wrap your talk up. When time is up, you will be asked to exit the ring promptly at that call. Once out of the ring you have completed the contest and are free to leave. Judges’ comment sheets will available to you at the conclusion of the awards banquet. General Rules:
Contestants may use any animal or photo (no larger than 8x10) of a SimGenetics animal as the subject of the sales talk. A contestant’s score will be reduced 10% if additional materials are presented to the judges other than those listed above. Contestants may only use the cow or the calf of a cow/calf pair; not both. Contestants must use another AJSA member to assist in holding the animal during the selling process. The heifer/cow/steer is not to be fitted. Immediately preceding the talk, contestants will be required to provide the judges with a registration certificate for the animal being “sold”. The judges will use the registration
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certificate to evaluate the accuracy of pedigree and performance information provided by the contestant and to ask questions. The certificate will be returned to the contestant at the conclusion of the talk. Contestants will be judged on the following: knowledge of the animal being sold, ability to relate important information about the animal, organization and style, poise and delivery, and overall effectiveness in convincing the judge to buy the animal. Sales Talk will be 5-7 minutes in length. Time elapsed will be indicated during the contest so that contestants are aware of the time constraints.
Necessary Materials:
Registration certificate 8x10 or smaller photo or the live animal being “sold” A fellow AJSA member to serve as a handler; don’t know anyone? ASA staff will help you find someone beforehand Show halter is optional for animal being “sold” Suggested dress is a button-down shirt, clean jeans, belt, and boots
Preparatory Action:
Memorize pedigree and EPD profile for the individual that you will be “selling” as best as you can. The judges will have the registration certificate; so you won’t have a cheat sheet and the judges will be able to double check the accuracy of your statements. It will prove helpful if you can gain working knowledge on EPD averages. It is possible that judges may ask you questions relating your animal to the average . Make a list of major points that you would like to cover during your pitch Iron your clothes and shine your boots as best you can; remember that appearance plays a role in sales. Practice, practice, practice. Give your developed sales talk to mom, dad, brother, sister, anyone who has an ear to bend. Allow yourself to be open to constructive criticism. Don’t be afraid to get creative. There are many different ways to make a successful sale Determine a reasonable price at which to sell your animal to the judges. This may seem silly, but as you develop more complicated talking points for your pitch, be sure and remember the basics.
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Judging Contest A favorite educational contest of many AJSA members, the judging contest gives you a chance to do what you already do well and pick the good ones. Visual appraisal is a skill earned through years and years of practice, and for most it entails looking at too many cattle to count. This contest gives those of you who have earned your judging stripes a chance to put them to use in a competitive setting. If you don’t agree with the officials, you will get a chance to defend your position and earn back some points through oral reasons. The communication and evaluation skills that are developed through this contest are something that will prove valuable beyond the week of AJSA competition, they will last you a lifetime. The judging contest will be held either in the show ring or at an operational site of a local farm/ranch. You will be required to pick up your set of cards at the contestant check-in table prior to the beginning of the contest. Make sure that you have the correct number of cards and that you know your contestant number, as you will need this to properly fill out your cards. Contestants will be gathered, you will be given instructions regarding the contest workings, and then split into groups. Each group will have a group leader. The easily identifiable group leader will be the person that you will hand marked cards to at the conclusion of each class, as well as a source of information if you have questions throughout the duration of the contest. You are required to remain with your assigned group throughout the contest, unless or until otherwise notified. You will have 12 minutes to judge each class; a two-minute warning will indicate that it is time to start marking cards and turning them into your respective group leader will be issued for each class. At the conclusion of the contest, you will be directed to their reasons/questions preparation area. Once arrived at the reasons preparation area, you will find chairs or bleachers marked with your contestant numbers. You are asked to sit where you have found your contestant number and begin preparation for reasons and or questions. A room monitor will be present to assist you with questions and to give further instruction as to when and where you will go to give reasons. At the conclusion of all required reason sets, you are free to go once you have returned to your seat in order to alert the next contestant that they may proceed to the reasons room. Official critiques will be available
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upon the conclusion of the event, if scheduling allows. Reasons comment sheets will be available to you at the conclusion of the awards banquet. General Rules:
A committee of judges will select and place all classes and listen to all reasons. Under most circumstances the contest will consist of six classes: yearling bulls, cow -calf pairs, steers, a keep-cull class of yearling heifers and two classes of yearling heifers. The committee reserves the right to substitute classes if necessary due to the availability of animals. Performance data will be used when available At Regional Classics, Juniors will give one set of reasons and answer one set of questions and Seniors will give two sets of reasons and answer one set of questions . At the National Classic, Juniors will give one set of reasons and answer one set of questions, Intermediates will give two sets of reasons, Seniors will give two sets of reasons and answer one set of questions. Placings classes will be worth 50 points per class and reasons/questions will be worth 50 points per class as well. Jackets, caps, or other apparel identifying an individual’s name, state of residence, or farm/ranch affiliation are prohibited during the contest. No parents or advisors shall be allowed in the judging contest area to inspect the livestock during the contest. While the contest is in progress, there shall be not conferring between contestants or between parents and/or advisors and contestants. Any violation of this rule will result in disqualification of the contestant. Contestants will be allowed 12 minutes to place each class. Two-minute warnings will be issued to signal contestants to start handing in their cards to t he group leader. Cattle will be judged unhaltered in pens or haltered. Close inspections will only be allowed if directed by the official committee. Contestants must remain with their assigned groups throughout the entire contest unless otherwise directed by their group leader. Ties will be broken on the basis of total reasons/questions scores. If a tie still remains, ties will be broken according to scores on the keep-cull class. Should a tie still exist, placings will be decided by a “flip of the coin” for the award.
Necessary Materials:
Each contestant will be provided with placing cards; however, you will be responsible for bringing a notebook for note-taking on reasons and questions classes. A pen and or a pencil Suggested dress is a button-down shirt, clean jeans, belt, and boots.
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Preparatory Action:
Take the time to research visual evaluation methods. The internet is a valuable resource in learning fundamental judging techniques and the art of proper note -taking. If possible, join a local judging team. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect”. Attend as many contests as you can beforehand. Seek out livestock mentors. Judging skill is something that normally comes with experience; seek out someone with this experience and tap into their first -hand knowledge. Familiarize yourself with an oral reasons format Make certain you know how to mark a card properly, you will quickly get used to the technique. The internet has many examples and explanations on the subject Terminology is an integral part of oral reasons. Local extension agents or judging team coaches are normally more than willing to share terminology sheets. These will prove as valuable tools for you to increase your vocabulary
You are now well versed in the rules of the trade and well prepared to be your best come contest time. Remember, these contests are not meant to be scary or a punishment; but they are aimed at bringing out the best in you! Take this as your personal welcome to not only competition, but an event filled with fun, friends, and memories to last a lifetime. We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming AJSA Regional or National Classic event.
Additional Resources Online: www.juniorsimmental.org Email: ajsa@simmgene.com Phone: 406.587.4531 10
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