Ottawa Herald, The (KS)
Published: July 12, 2011
For the past three years, the steer and heifer shows at the Franklin County Fair and Rodeo have been no-fit shows — and people seem to like it that way.
Having the shows be “no fit” or “blow and show” prevents the animals from being misrepresented by the use of any adhesive, glue, paint or powder.
“A lot of people are happy about the rule,” Billie Stowell said.
The banned items help create the appearance of features like a stronger bone structure and purer colors. The products don’t necessarily harm the animals and can be easy to wash out, but could cause hair loss.
Stowell, one of two beef and cattle superintendents for this year’s fair — which begins Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Ottawa — is responsible for conducting the pre-show inspection that determines whether or not the animals make it into the ring.
Stowell said she usually checks certain places for the prohibited products, such as on the legs and up on the tail hood, where the top of the tail is. She said she uses a comb because the adhesives and glues are strong and sticky.
JoEllen Arnold, a Frontier Extension District 11 agent, said the glue and adhesive make legs look wider, stronger and fuller. She said it creates the illusion that the animal is standing on more bone.
“People may try and put powder on a white spot because that makes it look that much whiter or some used to paint the hooves black,” Arnold said. “Its just a showmanship thing.”
“You can make an animal look a lot better using the glue and adhesive,” Stowell said. “But as a ‘blow and show,’ you are truly showing what the animal has.”
The phrase “blow and show” refers to the vacuum-like blowers 4-H’ers use to dry the animals after they are bathed and implies people simply blow-dry the hair and then show the steer or heifer as is.
Depending on which gender they’re observing, judges generally are looking for good structure and the meatiest animal from both the steers and heifers.
Arnold said the overall objective is to show the animal to the best of its ability.
“The idea is to catch the judge’s eye,” Arnold said. But what happens if someone is caught using the forbidden products? “If they’re caught early enough, they can go clean up before they go into the ring,” Arnold said.
Stowell said she knows of one animal a couple years ago that didn’t realize the rule.
“But they went and washed it out and got it out in time,” Stowell said.
She said at some of the bigger, national shows disqualification would probably be a result. In the three years the rule has been in place, Arnold said, there hasn’t been a serious problem and she doesn’t anticipate any this year.
“People know and understand what we’re asking for,” Arnold said.
The rule was enacted for the fair largely to allow participants to remain consistent with what is expected at the national show level.
Audra McCurdy, the other beef and cattle superintendent, said it’s just a matter of the standards and regulations changing.
“They want a more natural look now,” McCurdy said. “One that you would find in a pasture.”
McCurdy’s 11-year-old daughter, Alexa, is showing her heifer, Hope, at the fair this year.
Alexa said in her five years of showing, although she’s never used any of the prohibited products, she does have a few tricks up her sleeve that are allowed.
“I use some mousse in her hair, after I bathe her,” Alexa said. “It helps her hair go in the right direction.”
Alexa said her favorite part about doing the show is getting Hope ready, which usually takes about a half hour. And she does consider the use of adhesives and paint as cheating because she said it just doesn’t accurately portray the calf.
“I think the rule is a good thing,” Alexa said.
Angelique McNaughton 