STOCK SENSE REASONS MINI CAMP
NO FEAR. JUST REASONS.
Break It Down. Build Confidence. Give Better Reasons.
Giving reasons does not have to be complicated. When you understand what to say and why you are saying it, confidence starts to grow. In this two session Stock Sense Mini Camp, we are going to make reasons simple. We will take a set of reasons apart, look at each piece, and show you how to put it back together. You will learn a simple process you can use every time you give reasons. Most importantly, we are going to help you build the confidence to stand in front of an official, trust what you know, and communicate what you see. We will give you the tools to move past the nerves, get comfortable speaking, and believe in your ability to give reasons.
SESSION 1: BREAK IT DOWN — 80 MINUTES Tuesday Oct 27
We are going to make reasons simple. Students will learn how to describe what they see, build an opening, make comparisons, use grants and transitions, and choose terminology that clearly explains their thoughts. We will show students how to organize their notebook and their thoughts so they have a plan before they ever start talking. The goal is simple: Take something that can seem overwhelming and break it into pieces that are easy to understand and easy to use. We will use a basic Market Hog Class to complete the “Break It Down” Session. When you know the pieces, you know what to do. All ZOOMS will be recorded in case you can not make it!
SESSION 2: BUILD YOUR PRESENTATION — 80 MINUTES Wed Oct 28
Now it’s time to take what you learned in Session 1 and learn how to present your reasons with confidence. In this live Zoom session, you will learn the presentation skills that can make your reasons sound clear, organized, and convincing. You will learn how to use your voice, control your pace, make eye contact, stand with confidence, organize your thoughts, and deliver your reasons in a way that gets your message across to an official. You will learn what good presentation looks and sounds like, and then you will have the opportunity to put those skills into practice. You will give reasons, receive feedback, make adjustments, and try again. You will learn how small changes in the way you stand, speak, look, and deliver your thoughts can make a big difference in your presentation. You do not have to be a natural public speaker, and you do not have to sound perfect. You will learn the pieces that make up a strong presentation and how to put those pieces together. Most importantly, you will leave this session knowing what to work on and how to keep getting better. After Sessions 1 and 2, you will have the opportunity to continue working with the Stock Sense instructors through individual one-on-one coaching sessions. These sessions will allow you to take what you learned in the Mini Camp and work specifically on your reasons, your presentation, your strengths, and the areas where you want to improve. The Mini Camp teaches you the process. The individual sessions help you make it your own. NO FEAR. JUST REASONS. Learn the pieces. Practice the process. Find your voice. Give better reasons. All ZOOMS will be recorded if you can not make it or want to watch again!
AFTER THE MINI CAMP: MAKE IT PERSONAL — Individual Training/ One on One Coaching
After Sessions 1 and 2, students will have the opportunity to continue working with the Stock Sense instructors through individual one-on-one coaching sessions. This is where we take what you learned in the Mini Camp and put it into practice with actual classes of livestock.
During the first week of each month, you will receive two classes of livestock to evaluate and prepare a set of reasons. You will then schedule an evening Zoom session with one of our Stock Sense instructors to give your reasons, (Goal- Trying to simulate reasons practice for livestock judging contests). After you give your set, we will break down your reasons and your presentation, provide valuable verbal critiques, and give you specific suggestions for improvement. Then you get to put that feedback into action. You can make your adjustments and give your corrected reasons again that same night, or schedule another evening to come back and give your revised set. This process allows you to practice, receive individual coaching, make corrections, and try again. Each time you give a set, you will know exactly what you are doing well and what you need to improve. The goal is simple: allow you to practice with an official before you ever step into the contest ring. You will learn how to present your reasons, how to respond to feedback, and how to make your reasons stronger every time you give them. The Mini Camp teaches you the process. The individual sessions help you make it your own. NO FEAR. JUST REASONS. Learn the pieces. Practice the process. Find your voice. Give better reasons.
Planned Schedule
Tuesday Oct 27: Break It Down (Zoom) 6:30 pm (Zooms will be recorded!)
Market Hog Class Break Down (we will use this class for your first set of reasons)
Wednesday Oct 28: Build Your Presentation (Zoom) 6:30 pm (Zooms will be recorded!)
Monday Nov 2: Judge Breeding Gilt Class (Zoom) 6:30 pm (Zooms will be recorded!)
We will judge a set of breeding gilts and assist in writing reasons for this set.
Nov 3-5: Schedule two Zoom times (we will have a scheduler sent through email where you can select your preferred times). The first time will be to give either the gilts or market hogs. The second time you schedule will be to make corrections to the set.
Monday Nov 23: Judge Breeding Heifer and Bulls Classes (Zoom) 6:30 pm (Zooms will be recorded!)
We will judge these two classes and assist in writing reasons for these sets.
Nov 24-26: Schedule two Zoom times (we will have a scheduler sent through email where you can select your preferred times). The first time will be to give either the heifers or bulls. The second time you schedule will be to make corrections to the set.