Wood County Farm Bureau Teaches Showmanship Skills to Community Youth

By Sydney Garrett

Practice and repetition are needed to master any skill, and that is what Wood County (Ohio) Farm Bureau set out to teach the county youth by hosting a peewee beef showmanship event.

The Wood County Fair has hosted peewee showmanship clinics in the past, but never one for beef due to the venue size and labor needed to handle a large-species event. And with the discontinuation of the open beef show, the county Farm Bureau and community beef supporters thought peewee beef showmanship would be a great way to continue encouraging involvement in the beef industry.

Partnerships were formed early with the county beef producers, who helped with sponsorship prizes and workers at the event. Wood County Farm Bureau also enlisted the county Farm Bureau scholarship winner and beef ambassador to give participants tips and tricks at the beginning of the event.

With 52 county youth aged 5 to 8 years old enrolled, Wood County Farm Bureau exceeded their goal of 40 participants. With the participants came their families and fans, further spreading the event’s reach.

The event even shed light on policy issues and allowed the public to talk with Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president, who judged the event. Attendees heard from county leaders how Farm Bureau supports youth and legislative priorities and why membership matters.

The event generated much interest in Farm Bureau and left many smiling kids eager to learn more about beef, showmanship and youth pathways in agriculture.

County Activities of Excellence

The peewee beef showmanship event earned Wood County Farm Bureau an American Farm Bureau Federation 2023 County Activities of Excellence Award.

Applications are now open for the 2024 County Activities of Excellence. Up to 24 counties will display their winning activities at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention and Trade Show in Salt Lake City in January. County award winners receive up to four free registrations to the Annual Convention (cost of travel and housing not included) and a $2,250 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition. 

Sydney Garrett is the communications assistant for the American Farm Bureau Federation.