Better Oral Reasons
Getting Started
Keys to Improving
Understand Why We Give Reasons
– Verbal Skill Improvement
– Justification Skills (Decision Making)
– Prove Competency
Reasons are a Sales Communication
Practice, Compete, Improve, Practice,
Compete, Improve etc……
Additional Livestock Experience
Understand Scoring
Accuracy
Delivery
– Format
– Appearance
– Confidence, Poise, Presentation Flow, etc.
Terminology
– Species Specific
– Contemporary
Emphasis
Accuracy
Tell the Truth
Improve Your Evaluation Skills
–Experience
Emphasize the Big Things
Take More Effective Notes
Be More Prepared
Improved Notes
Placed 1 over 2
– Muscle
– Loin / Ham
Performance
Grant 2 over 1
Leaner
– Top
– Lower 1/3
– WDA
---------------------------
Carcass
Criticism of 2
– HM Carcass
– Largest LEA
Smallest Skeleton
2nd L Muscled
Improving Delivery
Format – Simple Structure
– System Benefits Both Contestant and Judge
– Build onto Format with Experience
Appearance
– Look Nice (appropriate for occasion)
– No Hat, Gum, Chew etc.
– Physical Delivery (Spacing, Stance, etc.)
– Look Like You are Having Fun (Enthusiasm!)
Practice for Flow and Confidence (Fear!!)
Improved Terminology
Up to Date Terms
Need not Be “Fancy”
Livestock Experience Helps
Situation Appropriate (Breeding - Market)
Species Appropriate
– No Hams in the Steer Class
– Convince the Reasons Taker You Raise that
Species (commonality)
Emphasis
The Difference Between Good Set and
Great Set
Most Important Reasons for the Decision
Instead of Just the Differences
Telling the Judge What He or She
Expects/Wants to Hear
Experience is Key
Getting Started
Work Through a Simple Format With
Format for Notes
First and Last Statements are Crucial
Only the Big Differences Including ID
Keep Track of Placing
Learn a Few General Species Terms
Smile, Look Appropriate, Be Friendly
Practice for Improvement
Beginners
Make it as Enjoyable as Possible
Especially for Younger Children
Evaluate Skills, Motivation and Experience
to Decide Where to Start
This is a Long Distance Race and Not a
Sprint
Students Will Progress at Different Speeds
You Need More than One Student to Make
a Successful Team
Basic Format
I placed this class of _________ 1-2-3-4
In my top pair I placed 1 over 2 because _
I grant 2 was ______ than 1,
But I placed 2 second because ____.(Opt)
In my middle pair I placed 2 over 3
because…………
I placed 4 last because he was the ______
in this class.
Format Tips
“Always” Be Comparative or Superlative in
pairs (er or est) or Grants
For Criticisms, Use Superlatives or Direct
Criticism Compared to Average Animals
In Criticism, Be Appropriate but not Cruel
Try to Vary Your Grant Lead In (ie Grant,
Realize, Admit, Recognize, etc.)
Format Upgrades
Introduction of Class – I started with the
highest performing bull and placed the
Simmental bulls 1-2-3-4
“Criticism” of the class winner
Using the scenario of a Performance class
to create an opening statement
Vary and Add to the Transitions Between
Pairs and Sections
Carcass Phrase in Every Market Pair
Use Outline Form in Pairs
Opening Phrase States Big, General
Terms that Will be Elaborated On
Following Sentences Describe
Differences Eluded to in Opening
Phrase
Finish With Extra Important
Differences
Example
I placed the red steer over 4 in my bottom
pair because he was a heavier muscled,
more correctly finished steer. 3 was a
thicker topped, heavier quartered steer
that showed more evidence of finish over
his ribs, in his lower body and flank. Thus
he should produce a carcass with a larger
ribeye and a greater probability of grading
Choice.
Other Tips
Some General Terms Need Little or No
Elaboration
This is Especially True in Grants and
Criticisms
Do Not “Repeat” Yourself in the Grant or
Criticism Without Referring to the Class or
All Animals
It is OK to Take an Pair Off (Too Easy)
Use IDs to Replace Numbers for Points
Know Your Reasons Taker
The Good Ones Want to Give You a Good
Score, Help Them!
Try to Score Points on Your Strongest
Species
Be More Brief During Later Sets
Judge Will Most Vividly Remember Your
First and Last Statements
Be Shorter for Sheep Reasons
In Summary
Start With a Simple Format Appropriate for
Age and Experience
Stick to the Big Differences and Don’t Lie
Your Appearance, Attitude and Mechanics
are Easy Ways to Pick Up or Lose Points
Work on Taking Useful Notes
There is Absolutely No Substitute for
Practice and Experience
Swine Judging
Changing Again
Still Focused on the Production and Carcass
Value
Width, Muscle, Structural Soundness and
Performance are All Areas of Emphasis
Leanness is Somewhat Less Important, but Fat
Hogs Still are Discriminated Against
Hogs are Not Sheep and Vice Versa
Find Some Decent Pigs to Work With
Resources
Montana State University??
Feed and Supply Companies
(Showmaster et al)
Breed Associations
– National Swine Registry
– American Angus
College Web-sites
– Colorado State, Kansas State, Texas A&M,
Texas Tech, Iowa State