9/2/2009 9:18:00 AM 41 years and counting Schroeder has enjoyed time judging, plans to continue
For 41 years, John Schroeder of Courtland, Minn., has been judging cattle at county fairs, regional dairy days, district Holstein shows in Minn., S.D. and Wis., and the Minnesota State Fair 4-H show and FFA show. For the past 10 years, Schroeder has tried to limit his judging to four shows a year. (photo by Jill Warren)
Jill Warren Staff Writer
COURTLAND, Minn. - For 41 years John Schroeder has been doing beauty pageants. There are no evening gowns, high heels or impromptu questions, nor is Schroeder on the side being critiqued. Rather, Schroeder has been judging beauty pageants - cattle beauty pageants that is.
Schroeder got his start in 1969 when he judged his very first show at the Meeker County Fair. Schroeder's start was not planned, but the original judge couldn't make it that day and Schroeder was asked to fill in.
Since then, Schroeder has kept himself busy judging everything from county fairs, regional dairy days, district Holstein shows in Minn., SD and Wis., the State Fair 4-H show - which he has judged five times - and the State Fair FFA show - which he will be judging for the second time.
"I'm in my comfort zone at any level," Schroeder said. "It's easy for me to talk cattle because that's what I know and love."
Not a single year went by within the last 41 years without Schroeder judging at least one show. For the first 30 years of his career he would do around nine shows a year. For the last 10 years he's tried to limit his judging to four shows a year.
Youth shows are Schroeder's favorite to judge, and he puts a lot of effort into making sure the young participants gain some knowledge from him during the show.
"I make an effort to talk to every youth individually in the ring," Schroeder said. "I criticize, but in a positive way because I want to make it a learning experience."
Showmanship is a class Schroeder particularly enjoys judging during youth shows. Watching the young showpeople develop and improve their skills is what makes that competition so fun according to Schroeder.
"It's neat to watch those serious 4-Hers go on to be successful in the ring and go on to successful jobs," he said.
Schroeder is no stranger to the other side of shows - being behind the halter - as his family has shown cattle at many levels throughout the years. During the 70's and early 80's Schroeder Holsteins exhibited two Reserve All-American heifers and one All-American bull.
His wife, Bev, and son, Jason, farm in a partnership milking 56 registered Holsteins and harvesting 325 acres at their farm near Courtland, Minn. Jason's wife, Michele, is employed off the farm at KNUJ radio in New Ulm, and Schroeder's other two children, Tim and Melissa, work off the farm but help out during busy times during the year.
Schroeder and his family are no longer as active in showing as they once were, but that doesn't stop Schroeder from attending shows just to observe.
"That's how I keep up," he said. "By going to different shows and watching and listening to other judges' reasons, I learn a little bit more and can improve on my judging and reasons."
Watching shows is no easy task, and Schroeder treats every one as a learning opportunity. For Christmas, Schroeder's children bought him a video of all the classes at the World Dairy Expo. The movie lasted four hours and Schroeder has watched it four times studying showmanship techniques, reasons and type at the national level.
Besides attending other shows, Schroeder also participates in workshops, which are held every four to five years by the PDCA (Purebred Dairy Cattle Association) to discuss new rule changes and keep judges up to date and refreshed. Schroeder has even put on two of the workshops himself.
Other changes have occurred over the last 40 years as well, and Schroeder has been there to witness it all.
"The show arenas have changed; they used to be all outside. The cattle are fewer but the quality has improved; the fitting has improved tremendously and people have a better understanding of functional type," Schroeder said. "The people haven't changed; they're still a joy to work with."
Over his 40 years, Schroeder has had a lot of interesting and fun incidents while judging. One moment that sticks out in his mind was the time he was electrocuted during a show.
"The show was outside on a football field and it had been down pouring," Schroeder said. "I went to grab the microphone to give my reasons for the class and the shock put me right on the ground."
Schroeder also recalls having to act as the bookkeeper, announcer and judge during a small show that was understaffed, as well as other funny moments that occurred on the way to and from different shows.
Even during his time serving in the army, Schroeder continued judging. The largest show he ever judged, with 350 cattle, took place in Wisconsin when his unit was stationed there.
"I was on duty and I had made a deal with my Commander that if I could get that day off to judge the show I would work all weekend," Schroeder said
After that show Schroeder looked forward to staying in a hotel with a bed, as he had been sleeping in a sleeping bag on the ground back at camp. Schroeder booked the last room available in the hotel but ended up giving it up to a lady who stood behind him in line.
"I ended up going back to camp that night and sleeping on the ground anyway," he said.
Of all those occurrences, the most memorable part of judging for Schroeder has been the people he has met.
"I've been judging so long that now I'm judging the second generation," he said. "It's great to watch the families grow and continue to work together at shows. Dairy people are the greatest people to work with."
The faces of numerous showpeople are not forgotten by Schroeder. He can remember many of the showpeople he judged from years ago and often time remembers the cattle they showed and how they placed.
It's that attention to detail and great memory that has made Schroeder a successful judge over these four decades. Schroeder credits his approachableness and great memory for why he keeps getting asked back to judge.
"When you judge a show you have to be very focused and familiar with the particular rules of each show or you get cattle mixed up," Schroeder said. "I'll remember an animal throughout the entire show. I am mentally fatigued after the show, but you should be if you're really paying attention and focused during the whole show. People expect that from judges."
With 40 years under his belt, Schroeder doesn't have any plans to stop now.
"I was going to slow down a couple years ago, but a friend asked me why I would quit something I loved," Schroeder said. "I don't fish, bowl or hunt. Judging cattle is what I love to do, and as long as the good Lord lets me keep walking I'll keep doing this."
