(Posted March 9, 2017)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Madison County’s own Marina Sweet is among the experts headlining this year’s Show Ring Success Seminar, set for April 22 at the Madison County Fairgrounds.
Presented by Heritage Cooperative, the free seminar teaches 4-H and FFA youths the principles of livestock selection, nutrition, showmanship and daily care of animals. The goal is to set them up for success at county fairs and other livestock shows.
“We bring in specie specific experts to talk about these issues,” said Dave Monnin of Heritage. “We break out into sessions so parents and kids can really focus on their specific livestock project.”
Sweet will lead the poultry and rabbit session. A two-time Madison County Fair grand showman of showmen, she is now an undergraduate at The Ohio State University where she is studying animal sciences on a pre-veterinary track. She plans to become a large animal/livestock vet with a focus on dairy cattle.
“We’re happy to have Marina on board. When she agreed to be one of our experts, she said it was because it was time to give back,” Monnin said.
Other experts in this year’s lineup are: Allen Johnson, sheep; Jason Lackey, swine; Justin Bachman, feeder calves; and Logan Svonavec, goats.
“We bring in live animals so kids can see exactly what the speaker is referring to as far as animal parts and how to show that animal,” Monnin said.
Now in its ninth year, the Show Ring Success Seminar attracts approximately 700 youths from a six-county area. This is the second year the event has taken place at the Madison County Fairgrounds.
The schedule for April 22 is as follows:
8:15-9 a.m.—Registration
9-11 a.m.—Species Session 1
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.—Quality Assurance
12:15-1 p.m.—Lunch (free)
1-3 p.m.—Species Session 2
3 p.m.—Door prize drawing
Door prizes include a Brechbuhler scale, hanging showbox, honor show feed, and shavings. Participants must be present to win.
While the seminar is free, registration is required. For details, call Stefanie Lewis at (800) 424-2584, ext. 639, or go to https://heritageshowringsuccessseminar.eventbrite.com.
