The Bellville Street Fair got under way Wednesday and included some of the Junior Fair Livestock judging, including the beef steer judging.
“The ability to take a weakness in an animal and diminish the view–that takes skill and experience,”said Leah Amstutz. ”Very good showmen are able to do that,” she added. With a background in agriculture that includes Animal Science, FFA State Advisor, Amstutz is a livestock judge at the 2013 Bellville Street Fair.
Judging ten shows a year that range from Jackpot to State and County Fair shows her experience covers local, regional and national levels. When it comes to the animal, Amstutz says key elements she looks for is how the animal combines natural thickness or ‘muscling’, correctness of fitness and overall the most eye appealing specimen. These elements are what make-up what is commonly known as animal confirmation.
According to Amstutz, what judges look for in the showman is a student’s ability to handle his or her animal in a way that presents a true understanding of that animal. That confidence and ease with the animal is what she likes to refer to as “show ring presence.”
Amstutz enjoys working with the students and being in a position to teach and guide them through their experience.
