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More Than a Jackpot

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

#bidbuyshowwin Showmanship

Going to a jackpot show can be super fun. The people and the laid-back atmosphere make these events a worthwhile experience for any showman. The benefit of going to a jackpot show are more than playing cards at the show box and taking home a great prize for breed champion. In fact, jackpots can provide an invaluable and unique experience for most young showman.

Jason Lackey says jackpot shows have been a huge plus for his son, Weston, to learn how to show pigs. Lackey and his, wife Jackie, own and manage Lackey Livestock, consisting of approximately 70 crossbred, Chester White and Yorkshire sows on the family’s pig operation near Haskell, Texas.  Lackey says his family will hit up to four or five summer jackpots across the state and then the same again in the fall.

As his two sons grow up, Lackey says they will focus on showing at the Texas Majors. Those major shows happen in the spring and include Fort Worth Stock Show, Rodeo Austin, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and the Houston Livestock Show. There is also the State Fair of Texas in the fall.

In order to gain experience and prepare for those big shows, the Lackeys have hauled eight-year-old Weston to several jackpots. Weston has gained confidence in these show rings, Lackey says, because he can watch older kids show and pick up skills to implement on his own without all of the pressures associated with a major show. The venue of a jackpot show is much smaller and the environment much more relaxed than a Texas major. Each time Weston enters the ring he is learning to be aware of his surroundings, how to move at a good pace, how to maneuver with the judge around the ring and how to win and lose graciously.

“It’s been very valuable,” Lackey says. “It took a little encouragement getting him in the ring but each time he sees bigger kids show it motivates him. He mimics them and when he sees what they do over and over it’s like the light comes on.”

Another great advantage of jackpots has been the friendships the Lackey boys have developed.

“The boys want to go to shows to be around those same kids,” Lackey says. “Making those new friends has increased their desire to show with their new friends. As parents, you couldn’t ask any more of the kind of young people who are becoming role models for your kids.”

Not only a benefit for youth, jackpots can also help an animal develop into a better show pig. For example, Lackey says Weston had a gilt that was stubborn and tough to work with at home but at a recent jackpot show the pig acted like a different animal. Watching this pig do a complete turn-around has helped Weston realize why the work must be done at home and how it pays off in the ring. Lackey says the stamina a show pig builds from experience at a smaller show is immeasurable.

“Being certain the pig can perform in the end is our whole goal,” Lackey says. “At our house, we see them in the same setting every day and we may not realize how they truly look or how they compare in weight. Going to a jackpot show puts your pigs in class with others of the same age or weight and gives an honest comparison of phenotype any progression you need to make.”

And though jackpot shows can be fun, Lackey says it is important to know when to stay home and allow the pig to grow and prepare for the final show. “Pigs can go backwards in a hurry so it’s best to keep them home when close to their final destination,” Lackey says. “It’s good to use preventative health measures before you leave and be prepared when the pigs get home to fight off anything they’ve been exposed to.”

Maybe most importantly, these shows are tremendous for parents, Lackey says. Learning to coach kids and offering positive reinforcement is crucial for mom and dad at a show. There are so many dynamics for parents to figure out including, especially with young children – everything from how to feed at the show to determining the pre-ring routine to making it to the ring on time and who is in charge of what.

The more significant and meaningful lessons however, are the ones that come with getting to know your kids. Figuring out what motivates them, when to push and when to back off, how to love them through the good and the bad and how to be the best example. A competitive environment can get the most of parents at times and learning to navigate through what’s really important is a lesson we have to relearn constantly. The conversations on the way home and the reflection of the weekend often teach you more than anything.

Jackpotting pigs has added value beyond chasing points or winning another banner. Lackey says it’s been the best way for his family to grow together and alongside their show family.

“We enjoy every minute of it,” Lackey says.