SHOW STEWARDING AS A FINE ART.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 12

SHOW STEWARDING AS A FINE ART.

Shows, more particularly agricultural and pastoral summer shows, have reached a stage when it is a question whether they are not being overdone, not only in the South Island, but in the North. The mere holiday aspect looms large in the eyes of the majority of people, to the detriment of the show’s educational features. Certainly it is the arena events which draw the crowd, and incidentally the revenue. While agricultural and pastoral committees must cater for all sections, their interests, or, rather, their business, in the first place, is to promote the live stock classes. The schedule of a metropolitan A. and P. show, *in a measure, should be framed, to attract entries from stock owners in at least the adjoining provinces. In most cases no. doubt it does, but there are some sections which differ widely in their classes, with the result that the entries are not as good as they might be. Then there is the stewarding. Good stewarding is more important than many people imagine, if a show is to be run successfully, as it requires energy, tact, common sense, and courtesy, and often quick thought and action. In the Farmer and Stock Breeder Mr E. S. Row touches upon some matters of detail that go to make a successful steward for live stock classes, which may prove useful to new hands •at the game. “I have heard it suggested,” he says, “that a steward is one who wears a badge of office, struts about as if he owns the show, and is given a free lunch for doing so. Now this type, (for, unfortunately, it does occasionally exist) should never be tolerated, as it is detrimental to any show, and the custom of putting people’s names on the stewards’ list because they like it, regardless of capability, should never be permitted.”

The steward’s actual duties vary at different shows, but a few general rules may be laid down for all. Find out your duties before the day of the show, know what section you are in charge of, and then look after that section for all you are worth, never troubling about anybody else or their job. See that everything is in order before the judge arrives. Get the exhibits before the judge promptly, quietly, and accurately, and when the judging is over do not think your duties done, but keep an eye on your breed as long ao the show lasts. An occasional visit to the pens will tell you if all is right, and should there be any unforeseen occurrence you can attend to it. Do not worry the secretary with trivial matters; he has plenty to do, and should only be consulted on matters of real importance. Once the judge is on the ground, the steward appointed should attend to him, and not let him hunt the ground over for information, etc. The exhibits should come before the judge like clockwork, and, while the steward is at hand, he should not speak unless spoken to. No steward should endeavour to assist the judge in his decisions. When the judge has finishd his dutiea he should be entertained as a visitor, and provided with all he wants, and do not, if you can help it, leave him alone as a stranger in a strange land, unless, of course, he wishes it. If, as is usually the case, two or more stewards are told off to manage a section, the best plan is for the more experienced man to act as senior steward, while the other, as his junior, takes his instructions. If, for instance, a cattle section is being judged the senior steward will attend with the judge in the ring, and the juniors will keep outside and get the classes ready, so that as one passes out the next is ready to go in without any delay or confusion. When the judge has made his awards, the senior steward should give out the cards, checking same in the catalogue with the judge’s book, and see that the official slips are sent to the office immediately—before going to lunch.