Livestock show provides ag students with hands-on learning, personal development

The love for animals and livestock shows was evident as community members and students gathered Nov. 13 at Northwest Missouri State University’s Agricultural Learning Center for Block and Bridle’s Little National Western livestock show.

Freshman Jerrica Hess entered the show as a novice sheep showman and won the overall novice showmanship award. Hess, a Maryville native studying agricultural business, wanted to show sheep because that was the only species with which she was unfamiliar.

“It’s not winning that really means a lot. I just really enjoy having fun with it,” Hess said. “At the end of the day, I didn’t care if I won or not. I was having fun with my friends and that’s all that mattered to me.”

Students chose their desired species of beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats or pigs to show their individual animals. Each student had four weeks to work with, train and prepare their animals for the show.

Students received an interest form signifying whether they qualified as an advanced or novice showman. Advanced showmen were paired with novice showmen to help them learn the techniques behind showing livestock.

Each species was shown separately by their novice and advanced showman. The winners for each species category then participated in a round-robin format to show each species and decide the overall winner with Northwest alumna Tess Mittag judging.

“This industry teaches hard work, responsibility, along with creating lifelong lessons and relationships,” Mittag, a 2016 Northwest graduate, said. “I would not be the person I am today if I had not shown livestock.”

Northwest Block and Bridle’s first livestock show was called the Little American Royal in 1985 and occurred in the University’s old machinery shop, though it was discontinued in the early 1990s. Similarly, the Agriculture Club sponsored a livestock show for local 4-H and FFA members as early as 1964. In the last decade, however, the club’s enrollment declined.

Last year, Block and Bridle President Cole Hunter decided to host a livestock show to advocate for the organization and provide a unique opportunity for students. He wanted to continue the tradition this year.

“I thought it would be cool to get it back to where it was a thriving organization again and something that other show people could look forward to since we don’t have a livestock judging team,” Hunter said.

Hunter also wanted students to be able to show off their unique skills.

“It helps show that the School of Ag is motivated and has a lot of hard-working individuals that are willing to go above and beyond to help showcase certain projects that they’ve been working on,” Hunter said. “I think it helps show that the School of Ag is devoted to agriculture.”

Dr. John Greathouse, associate professor of animal science, and Dr. Kaitlin Epperson, assistant professor of animal science, co-advise the Block and Bridle organization.

The livestock show is primarily organized and planned by students.

Epperson wanted to advise Northwest Block and Bridle because she was a member of the club as a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and she enjoys the opportunities it provides for students.

“It teaches you skills that are really hard to gain in a traditional classroom setting,” Epperson said. “It kind of takes a lot of the key features of what life teaches you over time and forces you to learn it all at once.”

Andrew Stewart, a freshman agricultural business major, entered as an advanced goat showman. At home in Easton, Kansas, Stewart raises and shows goats and sheep. He believes more students with no agricultural background should participate in showing livestock.

“I think that more people should come do it. Give it a shot,” Stewart said. “I think that’s what the novice division tries to do. It’s a lot of fun.”