Dedication, determination and a lot of elbow grease — that’s the art and the rules behind achieving perfect hide and hair on show cattle. 

If I’m being honest, it’s truly the second most important step in perfecting the ideal show animal. Because let’s be real, being able to run a feed scoop and fill a pan is the best and easiest way to change one. But the second step? That’s daily hair care. That’s where young men and women can truly set themselves and their cattle apart. Because what would a cow show be without spraying glue and pulling a leg?

Dedication is the action of getting up before the sun rises to bring your cattle in and feed them breakfast; making sure you sneak in that morning rinse before heading off to school or summer workouts. 

Elbow grease is what comes after that chilly rinse. Whether it’s a rice brush or a fluffer comb in your hand, you’re carefully moving every single hair in the right direction with each swipe. Yes, that means getting to their belly button and underneath their brisket, because we all know that every little detail matters! 

Next, grab that blower, love it or hate it. They have to be bone dry so the hair can separate down at the hide. That allows the scalp to breathe, which leads to faster, healthier hair growth. 

Determination is the discipline to repeat the process at night. It’s the drive to rinse twice a day. You don’t need to soap them every day, but a good, thorough rinse twice daily to keep that hide clean is a must!

Dedication, determination and elbow grease all stem from drive and passion. It takes long hours — from the 5 a.m. wake-ups to feed and bring them into the barn, to the twice-a-day rinses, to the late-night kick-outs. From every stroke of the brush to the coolness of the wash hose, down to the daily hair products like Double Dip and Kleen Sheen — it’s the minor details that set you apart. 

So, stay driven. Keep the passion lit. Because there’s no better way to live life than in the barn.