June/July 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 29 CONSIDER THIS coaches emphasize to their students are founded on self-improvement, building confidence and learning how to evaluate livestock. “The skills kids learn from this activity are second to none in preparing them for their career. Communication skills, quick and accurate decision-making skills and time management are elite skills they learn,” French states. Judging and reasons are proficiencies that youth will use no matter what they’re going to end up doing in life. “If they’re going back home to the farm or ranch, they’re going to be making decisions; they’re going to have to go be able talk to a banker or insurance person,” Roeber states. “No matter what you decide to do, judging skills are going to be beneficial for you.” For students going into production agriculture, livestock judging helps them keep up with trends in the industry when choosing livestock to remain in their operation. Roeber has also had students who have gotten jobs – even outside of agriculture – because their resume showed they judged livestock and employers knew they could communicate and make decisions. Justifying a decision and improving their ability to communicate are life-building qualities Vivion shares with her students. “That’s something that they’re going have to do every day as adults, regardless of what path they take,” she says. “It’s hard to find something that giving reasons doesn’t apply to.” Even as a high school student, Sanders is using her livestock judging skills with her own cattle herd. “When picking my own replacement heifers for the next year, judging skills just come in handy everywhere I turn.” “I’m a huge proponent of the livestock industry, but an even bigger proponent for livestock judging,” French expresses. “The things it’s been able to do for me as a small-town kid are skills that have prepared me for a successful career. I encourage students that if you’ve got any interest at all, get a hold of the right folks and jump in, because it’s an activity worth doing.” ~NC~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMxNTA5