Opinion blog by Rachel Cutrer
I’m going to step on my soapbox for a minute, because this matters in the show industry: Accuracy in show titles.
We’re in the middle of big major national spring shows from now through March. Everyone wants to celebrate cattle that win, and we should. Any placing at a major show is an accomplishment worth being proud of.
But there’s a difference between:
- Class Winner
- 2nd in Class
- Division Champion / Reserve Division Champion
- Grand Champion / Reserve Grand Champion
Those titles aren’t interchangeable, and the wording we use in ads and promotions should reflect exactly what the animal earned.
We have a lot of national shows going on right now. In my opinion, the title “National Champion” should be reserved for the Grand Champion of the show. The single, #1 top animal that day. Calf that got the champion slap. Not a class winner, not a division winner, and not a reserve division placing (as impressive as those are). Those may have won certain awards at the national show, but they aren’t THE national champion.
There are plenty of honest, accurate ways to promote success, such as:
- National Class Winner
- National Division Champion
- Reserve National Division Champion
- National Show Division Winner
Heck, you can even call it Reserve National Class Champion if that floats your boat. I personally don’t call a 2nd place that, but, if you want to, do it. Just don’t call your 2nd in class the national champion. Or, don’t call your calf that got 2nd this year and 2nd place last year a “two time national champion.”
Being transparent doesn’t make the win smaller – it makes the show program stronger.
And beyond marketing, accuracy also shows respect to the exhibitors and breeders who DID win the top honors. Those accomplishments deserve to stand on their own without being blurred by exaggerated wording or misleading claims.
I also feel publications have a role in this, in regards to fact checking. One that does a great job is the Angus Journal. They have very strict guidelines of how things should be worded in regards to any type of claim, showring, EPD, or otherwise. When something gets in print, it needs to be accurate. And I really appreciate magazines that uphold accuracy as a priority.
Buyers deserve clarity, and breeders deserve integrity.
Celebrate the wins – no matter how big or small – just call them what they really are.
