After watching too many dairy shows to count, where world-class showmen led cows worth thousands of dollars to the Winner’s Circle, you would think I could give my kids some showing dos and don’ts that would put them over the top in showmanship.

After this year’s county fair, I’ve learned that some things can’t be fixed with just a tip or two. When you spend countless hours standing in the ring, camera in hand, looking for that Kodak moment to set you apart from everyone else, you have a lot of time to watch the showmen and how they work with their cattle and the expressions on their faces.

Coming home from Harrisburg, I brought more than All American Dairy Show t-shirts – some little tricks of the showing trade I had picked up while waiting for the judges to make up their mind.

As my kids worked their heifers before the fair, I showed them a couple of things that I thought were a solid gold and could give them an edge. It worked for one, but not for the other.

It was show morning and before they went into the ring, I told them to put on their poker face and don’t even think about getting upset if they lose. I told them to suck it up and deal with where they were placed – but that I would love them more if they won.

Of course, that last comment was just a joke to loosen them up as they walked into the ring. It worked for one, but not for the other. My daughter went in, won and left with a trophy in hand and a smile on her face.

As Jake waited to show his dog-like heifer (she acts like a dog and follows him around everywhere), he began to get edgy. He wanted to win. He had to beat the girls in his class. He had won before; he just had to win again.

I could see he was getting impatient, and I told him to take a deep breath; that didn’t work. I told him to pray; he said he did and that apparently wasn’t working, either.

I finally sent him in the ring telling him to put on his poker face and that I loved him, but that I would love him more if he won. Like I said, it worked for one, but not the other.

As he was pulled into third place, his composure level was dive-bombing and he couldn’t get out of the ring fast enough. Exiting, he gladly handed the heifer over to his older brother and began sputtering about how dumb the heifer was acting and that he was never going to show her again.

A pep talk from his daddy, combined with a little time, and he was back in the ring helping the neighbor show her Jersey heifers in the championship drive. He looked like the old Jake we all know and I love.

Hours of leading, washing and feeding, helpful hints from big players and prayer went out the window in an instant; I guess the only “edge” he needed was a change in breed.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.