You haven’t been to an ag show in Ireland until you…
- Have walked the entire field of livestock, row by row, several times;
- Watch each judging category class by class, even when there are several rings in full swing simultaneously;
- Follow each beast from show to show and possibly all the way to the sales ring at a later date;
- Read the show’s catalogue from cover to cover;
- Make a list of cattle or sheep that you may buy if they become available for sale later in the year;
- Meet at least one person who you have not seen in years;
- You’ve had a full Irish on-site;
- You are one of the first to arrive on-site and one of the last to leave;
- Get roped into leading an animal around the ring;
- Get roped into clipping, brushing, grooming and washing;
- Wait until the last animal goes through the ring;
- Drink more cups of coffee or tea throughout the day than you do for the entire year;
- Come prepared with sandwiches and tea in a flask;
- Buy some sort of tool or farm implement that you may never use;
- Come home deciding that you are going to upgrade the tractor or jeep;
- Queue for hours for a drink or half-melted icecream;
- Take photos and videos of lots to send to your fellow farming fanatics who cannot attend;
- Watch coverage back on That’s Farmingeven though you were there in-person;
- Pick up free pens, keyrings and other types of branded merchandise from random stands;
- Purchase a ‘show stick’
Things they do not tell you about dating a livestock exhibitor
Previous article we published on things they do not tell you about dating a livestock exhibitor:
- Forget about an overseas holiday each summer; ag show season it is!
- Familiar yourself with the ISA event guide – you are heading to at least one ag show every weekend (maybe even two);
- You will have to spend all your time perfecting the animal’s appearance – not your own!
- Your white ‘show coat’ is your desired attire of choice for the season;
- Red must become your favourite colour – eyes on the 1st-prize-winning rosettes;
- You must become a ‘bovine hairdresser’ – Certificates required in: livestock blow drying, clipping, washing and grooming;
Read more.