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Producers, best choice for judges
Theresa Seraphim and Mac Olsen
for Spotlight
Livestock producers know their products inside and out, so who better to judge at a show than someone in the industry.
When Duane Nichols and Bob Tindall judge a bull, they have specific ideas about what they want to see in the animal. Nichols and Tindall, along with Howard Greer, were the judges for the Cattleman’s Choice Bull competition at the 12th annual Peace Country Beef Congress.
“This was a good group of bulls – good to judge. Everybody did a good job,” Nichols told contestants, adding the judges’ task was tough because of the high quality.
Nichols, who has judged 4-H shows in the past, says he looks for a variety of qualities.
“I want everything,” including appearance, presentation, and confirmation (the structure of feet and legs), says Nichols.
“We look at hair cut (and) general appearance. You look for muscular qualities.”
Muscle tone is another important factor, says Tindall.
“If they don’t have the muscles, they can’t travel.”
Length of the animal is another aspect judges look at.
“A longer animal is generally preferable,” says Nichols.
A breeder has to put time, energy and money into raising bulls, for the sake of having future calves, he adds.
“It’s a big investment. A bull is half your herd.”
The show judges, Dave Vikse and Kristy Oatway, have specific criteria when evaluating livestock.
Vikse evaluates the width, length, depth and angular shape of the animal and also looks for structural correctness. Does is it walk correctly and stride properly?
“If she doesn’t have good feet, then she’s a zero,” Vikse says.
As a 4-H judge, Oatway looks for muscle, fat cover, thickness, depth of body, length, etc.
Vikse has a farm near Camrose where he raises Red and Black Angus cattle.
He has showcased his cattle across Canada, including the Royal Fair in Toronto.
Oatway lives in Rycroft and has been actively involved in the 4-H program there for nine years. She has also been a judge at the Northern International Livestock competition in Billings, Mont.
Vikse and Oatway enjoy judging events like the Peace Country Beef Congress and especially like working with children.
Children in the 4-H groups had the opportunity to judge four cattle, marking their decisions on a card. But they had to come to the same conclusions as Vikse about first to fourth place and he provided feedback and encouragement to them.
Justine Voss, 9, and her sister, Corissa Voss, 15, learned a lot from the judging.
“The judging was a bit tricky,” says Justine Voss. “I liked the beef bowl part of 4-H. I answered most of the questions right.”
“I thought the judge did a great job of explaining things,” says Corissa Voss. “It was helpful and good.”
The girls enjoyed participating in the Beef Congress.
Their family goes to many cattle shows and while it’s a lot of work, they love the excitement of the showing.
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Kyle Klassen and his Simmental bull won the Cattleman’s Choice Bull Grand Champion banner. Left-right are sponsors Darren Stewart and Cheryl Olanski; judges Howard Greer, Bob Tindall and Duane Nichols; Mike Klassen, Kyle Klassen, Mari Klassen and Colby Klassen.
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Kris McQuaig and his Simmental bull won the Cattleman’s Choice Bull Reserve Champion banner. Left-right are sponsors Darren Stewart and Cheryl Olanski; judges Howard Greer, Bob Tindall and Duane Nichols; Jason McQuaig, Kris McQuaig, Nikki McQuaig and Darcie McQuaig. Behind, at the far right, is Jordan McQuaig.
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The Peace Country Beef Congress’s contests wouldn’t have been possible without the judges. Left-right are judges Kristy Oatway and Dave Vikse and Freeman Iwasiuk, a PCBC director. Iwasiuk thanked both judges for their service.
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Pictured above are the three judges for the Cattleman’s Choice Bull contest. Left-right are Howard Greer, Bob Tindall and Duane Nichols.
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