Page 130 - ShowSight - November 2019

Breed Education: It Starts With You BY CELESTE M. GONZALEZ continued
“YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR LEARNING.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE EXHIBITOR OF THE BREED YOU WILL BE ADJUDICATING TO KNOW THE “WHY’S” AND “HOW’S” OF THE SPECIFIC BREED, AS MUCH AS THE “WHAT” OF THE BREED. YOU WILL BE JUDGING BREEDING STOCK, NOT A GLAMOUR AND SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST.”
examine and evaluate is sometimes fraught with contention; from the aspects of the exhibit owners’, the parent club influenc- ers, the presenter’s predispositions, and the availability of excellent quality breed representatives whose owners commit to bring exhibits for the hands-on workshop. When the exhibit owners, presenter and parent club are at odds regarding the exhib- its selected for participation in a hands-on workshop, it is incumbent on all parties to agree that only by having the best breed examples at a workshop will learners be more competent adjudicators of the breed in question.
LEARNER
Many parent clubs have their breed’s study guide(s) on the AKC web site https:// www.akc.org/sports/conformation/judging- information/judges-study-guides/. These guides can be a starting point for the learner to get a background on a specific breed or breeds prior to attending the breed seminar and hands-on workshop (also known as “workshop”). There are often gems of infor- mation in those study guides that you will not see or hear in the seminar presentation or hear/see/feel in the workshop. Please be sure to review the history of the breed, so the explanations of form, as well as temper- ament/personality/attitude, can be related back to breed function during the seminar presentation and workshop.
You are responsible for your learn- ing. It is important to the exhibitor of the breed you will be adjudicating to know the “why’s” and “how’s” of the specific
breed, as much as the “what” of the breed. You will be judging breeding stock, not a glamour and showmanship contest. You are there to adjudicate so as to choose the preservation of those traits which allow a breed to continue to positively move into the future conserving its functional and structural heritage.
If you are at a breed seminar and work- shop as a breeder, owner, and/or exhibitor, you also are also subject to the same respon- sibilities as the learner-judge. Your role as an adjudicator takes on a different perspective as you learn more about your breed enabling you to become a better breeder or exhibitor. Your added role as a learner, albeit in a dif- ferent setting, is to understand the health and genetic complexities of your breed so as to preserve your breed for a healthy and functional future.
On the creature comfort side of things, ask about the venue: seating, desks/tables, ambient temperature, class hours, lunch and break times. Be prepared with comfort- able shoes and clothing, while maintaining a professional or workplace appearance. Ask well before you register which hotels are nearby or recommended, and nearby or recommended eating places, and if there is transportation from the local airport to the hotel or venue. Ask if the seminar coordi- nator maintains a listing of people looking for hotel roommates, ride shares, or if they would share the registrant contact list. Some registrants would like to share a hotel room or a ride, but don’t know who’s attending. Ask if water and/or snacks will be pro- vided but please don’t expect the seminar
coordinator to cater to every snacking desire. Most all seminars are run on a really tight budget! If you have particular snack- ing needs, please bring those with you.
If you are a learner that is comfortable bringing your laptop on which to take notes or view the parent club website’s presenta- tion download, do so. Please make sure your laptop battery is fully charged, as there are usually no extension cords for your use, or convenient outlets in which to plug into. Just be aware that not all venues have WiFi access. Ask! If you prefer to write your notes on paper, or directly on the handouts, bring at least two writing implements. Some learners like to bring a highlighter with them to emphasize information that they want to easily have stand out.
If it is an all-day or multi-day session of seminars and workshops, be rested up (each day) for an intense brain workout. Come with an open mind and no preconceived notions. Your head will fill rapidly!
NEXT IN THE SERIES
The next installment in this series will cover the preparatory aspects for a seminar coordinator, be it a coordinator for a group that hosts multiple breeds seminars during one period of time or a single breed semi- nar coordinator one or several times a year. Sometimes the breed presenter is also the seminar coordinator and that is a complex job unto itself.
Until next time, please send us your comments, questions and suggestions for this series. Please send us an email at Editor@AraMediaGroup.com.
128 • ShowSight Magazine, noveMber 2019