478 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BEFORE THE SHOW. 



Having brought the sheep of the respective classes as near perfection 

 as possible, as regards growth and condition, much will still depend upon 

 the way in which they are placed before the judges. Every care should 

 be taken in matching individuals for the flock prize. A prize is often 

 thrown away by putting together animals of different sizes and types. 



Again,' it would be bad policy to send the best animals away from 

 home the week or so preceding the most important fairs, where the 

 breed comes out in great numbers, and the prizes are more valued. Such 

 a step would be placing the sheep at a disadvantage, as they would un- 

 doubtedly lose much of their bloom. 



AS TO SELECTION. 



If the exhibitor feels convinced he cannot show to win, he should not 

 select the biggest to represent him, but rather those which are the truest 

 to character and type, and likely to attract the attention of breeders, 

 •with perhaps more remunerative results than the mere money value of a 

 prize. Undoubtedly many men have injured their reputation by exhibiting 

 animals not true to character when perhaps their flock in its entirety 

 was a very good one. 



THE TRUE SHOW-RING SPIRIT. 



The exhibitor has much to consider other than simply bringing for- 

 ward his sheep in the best possible manner. It must be kept in mind 

 what an exhibition is really for, but at all shows we find two classes of 

 men, one including those who consider exhibiting as a sort of war in which 

 they must strive to beat their competitor, regardless of how low they have 

 to stoop to do it, and the other class includes those who are imbibed 

 with the true show-ring spirit and are there to help raise the standard 

 and advance sheep interests in general. The actions of the former class 

 have to be endured to a greater or less extent by those exhibitors who are 

 truly gentlemen. They will mix up their flocks and say disagreeable 

 things, but new exhibitors must cultivate their own minds so these 

 sneaking tricks an-d unkind words from other hands and lips will not ex- 

 cite or vex them. If you happen to have such a competitor, just consider 

 that you are unfortunate to that extent, and by cool judgment and clear 

 thinking try to overcome the public effect of his evil ways. Some men, 

 and old ones too, in different cases, seem to think that their reputation 

 can be built up by untruthful low sayings about other people, but such 

 is not the case, and when you hear anyone speaking ill of their compet- 

 itor just firmly impress upon your mind that the person who uttered those 

 words is not a first-class man whose principles are high and correct. 

 The true exhibitor who is a benefit to the industry and is satisfactory to 

 deal with is the one that strives hard to bring forth sheep of the highest 

 possible standard, and by placing them before the public and in the show- 

 ring he helps to raise the ideals of spectators and for himself has the 

 satisfaction of knowing what improvement he has made in his own flock 



