Better Oral Reasons

1. Better Oral Reasons Getting Started

2. 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

3. Understand Scoring • Accuracy • Delivery • Format • Appearance • Confidence, Poise, Presentation Flow, etc. • Terminology • Species Specific • Contemporary • Emphasis

4. Accuracy • Tell the Truth • Improve Your Evaluation Skills • Experience • Emphasize the Big Things • Take More Effective Notes • Be More Prepared

5. Placed 1 over 2 Muscle Loin / Ham Performance WDA Carcass HM Carcass Largest LEA Grant 2 over 1 Leaner Top Lower 1/3 --------------------------- Criticism of 2 Smallest Skeleton 2nd L Muscled Improved Notes

6. 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!!)

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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