Last update: February 2023
Download Rules and Regulations
Competition Rules
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1. Entry – The Canadian Charolais Youth Association (CCYA) show and Conference is open
to all youth members in Canada or foreign countries who are registered members of
their respective associations. Canadian members must have paid their $20.00 active
membership fee to the CCYA by January 1 ($40.00 after January 1) or their $25 active
membership fee to the CCA to be able to participate in the conference (see
http://youth.charolais.com/membership for more information). CCYA members may
include their $40.00 membership fee with their application form for the Conference and
Show. Registration for the Conference enters the youth members in all competitions. All
first time conference participants will have their next year CCYA membership waived.
2. Ages – The age division for the competitions will be: Little Chars: 5-7; Junior: 8-12;
Intermediates: 13-16 years; Seniors; 17-21 years, as of January 1 of the current year.
3. Photography Competition – The photography competition is open to all participants. The
photograph must be taken by the youth member exhibiting it. Photos should depict the
purebred or commercial Charolais industry. Points will be awarded on clarity, quality,
originality and relationship to the Charolais industry. Presentation and/or framing is not
permitted. Photos must not be larger than 8” X 10”. Bring your photo entry to the
conference and enter when you register. Only one photo per exhibitor will be accepted.
Pictures entered in past competitions will not be accepted.
4. Art Competition – The art competition is open to all participants. All artwork must be
done by the youth submitting it. The artwork must depict something directly related to
the Charolais industry. It may be a physical item or a digital piece of artwork. It may
contain photographs. Any medium may be used: pencil, crayon, pastel, paint, fabric, wood,
clay, etc. Including the use of any digital platforms. All digital art must be received as a
printed copy. Originality is the key. Presentation and/or framing are encouraged but no
points are awarded on this basis. Artwork must be brought to the conference and
entered when you register. Only one entry per exhibitor will be accepted. The highest
placing between photography and artwork competitions will be used in aggregate and
scholarship points. Artwork entered in past competitions will not be accepted.
5. Showmanship Competition – The showmanship competition will be divided into the
three age categories. Animals will be made available for participants not exhibiting in
conformation. If the youth have their own animal, it must be used for the competition.
Showmanship will be a non-fit/dry-brush competition; animals that have been fitted will
not be allowed to be used for the competition. The assigned ring marshal’s decision will
be final. Split up members in a random fashion so that ages are mixed. Top ten will be
selected from each age group no matter on which split they are in.
6. Team Grooming Competition – The team grooming competition will be fifteen minutes
in length. Teams of two or three members from the same age group will be arbitrarily
made prior to the show. Yearling heifers will be used exclusively for the competition.
Junior members will be allowed to use calves. Heifers are to be washed and clipped prior
to the competition but dressing prior to commencement will result in disqualification.
Teams will be evaluated on the use of equipment, knowledge, skill, involvement, final
appearance and presentation of the heifer. The use of unethical or artificial fitting
practices will result in immediate disqualification and under no circumstances will be
tolerated. Details can be decided at the discretion of the organizing committee.
7. Team Marketing/Judging Competition – All participants will choose between team
marketing and team judging. This will be chosen at the time of registration. Teams will
be made up of two members who are in the same age category. Teams will be made
prior to the conference, but the committee reserves the right to modify teams based on
actual attendance.
a. Team Marketing – Each team will have approximately 5-7 minutes to sell a
product or service to a prospective buyer. Each team will be given (45 minutes) to
prepare. Teams will be judged on knowledge, enthusiasm, group
cooperation/involvement, and overall ability to convince and sell.
b. Team Judging – The hosting province has the authority to choose if one or two
classes will be judged. If expected to judge two classes, in the first class one team
member will be responsible for the ring-person duties and the other will place
the class and give a set of oral reasons to the audience. If there is time for a
second class, the team members will alternate positions. This is encouraged.
8. Individual Marketing – Individual marketing evaluates participant’s ability to promote a
product (or service). Time is given at the conference; participants are not permitted to
use/submit materials in advance.
a. Junior: Individuals are given a choice of individual selling, or developing
promotional items – one of: a radio ad, or a magazine ad. Tape recorders and art
supplies will be provided for the ads. Forty-five (45) minutes will be given for
individuals to prepare their marketing campaign.
b. Intermediate: Participants will be required to compare and critique two
advertisements of the same medium, and will be judged on logic and
effectiveness. Participants will be judged in originality, and content. Forty-five
(45) minutes will be given for individuals to complete their questionnaire.
c. Senior: Individuals will be required to develop a marketing plan for a specific
scenario. The product/service will be selected by the organising committee prior
to the conference. A set of questions will be provided as a template for the plan,
as well as necessary background information. Forty-five (45) minutes will be
given for individuals to prepare their marketing plan. Plans will be submitted in
writing and will be judged on logic, clarity, creativity and originality, and
effectiveness.
* For Intermediates and Seniors the top 5 participants, based on their written marketing piece,
may be asked to return and given a face-to-face sales pitch to the judge.
9. Keep and Cull Competition – Participants will compete individually and learn the basics
of keeping females in the herd on the criteria of past performance and appearance.
Members will be given EPD’s and a farm based scenario according to the competitors
age category, as developed by the judge prior to competition, and will be expected to
select three females from a pen of five. A class will be held by the judge prior to the
competition to explain the fundamentals of EPD’s and what the industry is looking for in
today’s producing animals. Members will have one hour to complete the class and
seniors are expected to help juniors complete their card (It may be required to stagger
the age groups so seniors are able to assist JR members). Judge and conference
committee are expected to clarify expectations of keep and cull cards before the
competition.
10. Judging Competition – Members will compete individually and will judge classes of
steers, females, and bull calves, or other classes as determined by the organizing
committee. Junior participants will be expected to complete written reasons on three
classes and oral reasons on one class, as determined by the organizing committee.
Participants will be given 15 minutes to judge the class and 5 minutes to prepare
reasons. The Intermediate and Senior participants will complete the same classes and be
required to submit placing cards as well as complete oral reasons on all three classes.
11. Oral Reasons – Members will compete individually by presenting their oral reasons on
previously judged steers, yearling heifers or calves. Junior members will only complete
one set of reasons on a chosen class. Only junior members will be allowed to refer to
their judging cards while giving their oral presentation. There will be a time limit of two
minutes.
12. Herdsmanship Competition -The organising committee will group youth exhibiting with
those youth without cattle at the Conference and Show. This allows for juniors without
cattle to help those with cattle and to meet new people. All members are encouraged to
help keep their alley swept and clean and to help one another out. Teams preferably will
be 6 -7+ members and will be made by organisers according to the youth members’
experience/age and the number of animals to be cared for by the team. The organizing
committee may use their discretion when creating herdsman groups. A select group of
unknown judges will be monitoring the activities of the participants and will compare
notes to pick the winners. All families with cattle will be in the same herdsman group
unless notified by the families that this is unwanted. Farm signs will not be permitted.
13. The Ambassador Award – Members will be evaluated on their helpfulness, willingness,
encouragement, spirit, and general attitude towards the conference and fellow
participants. A select group of unknown judges will be monitoring the activities of the
participants and will compare notes to pick the winners. Members will be evaluated in
their respective age categories. A ballot will be filled out by CCYA members attending the
Conference and Show and will also be used in the judging process.
14. Education Awards – Education award monies will be awarded on an overall point basis at
the conference and show. Eligibility requirements are listed in the CCYA Policies and
Procedures, section 21. The amount of education award monies will be $1800, with
$1000 for 1st, $500 for 2nd and $300 for 3rd place, based on the breakdown of the
following competitions: Judging & Oral reasons 35%, Ambassador 20%, Showmanship
10%, Photography or Art (best of) 5%, Keep & Cull 10%, Individual Marketing 15%, Essay
Competition 5%..
15. Aggregate Competition
a. Juniors: Points will be awarded as follows: photography/art – best 5%, judging
25%, showmanship 10%, herdsmanship 5%, individual marketing 10%, team
marketing or team judging 10%, keep/cull 5%, ambassador 10%, team grooming
10%, oral reasons 5% and 5% for bringing cattle.
b. Intermediates & Seniors: Points will be awarded as follows: photography/art –
best 5%, judging 30%, showmanship 10%, herdsmanship 5%, individual
marketing 10%, team marketing or team judging 10%, keep/cull 5%, ambassador
10%, team grooming 10%, and 5% for bringing cattle.
* The first and second place winners in each division will be awarded belt buckles to recognise
their accomplishments. Additional monies may be awarded at the discretion of the Conference
and Show organising committee.
Tie Breaker: In the event of a tie for Grand Aggregate or Reserve Grand Aggregate, the total
judging score will be used to break the tie. If there is still a tie, the Individual Marketing score
will be used to break the second tie.
Conformation Classes Offered
1. Purebred:
a. Bull Calf born in 2023
b. Heifer Calf born in 2023
c. Yearling Heifer born in 2022
d. Female born in 2021 with natural 2023 calf
e. Female born in 2020 or previous with natural 2023 calf
Champion & Reserve Purebred Female (top 2 animals from classes I (b-e))
2. Commercial: (50% Charolais or visible Charolais cross)
a. Male Calf born in 2023
b. Heifer Calf born in 2023
c. Yearling Heifer born in 2022
d. Female born in 2021 with natural 2023 calf
e. Female born in 2020 or previous with natural 2023 calf
Champion & Reserve Commercial Female (top 2 animals from classes II (a-d))
3. Special Classes:
a. Market steer (50% Charolais or visible Charolais cross)
i. The CCA will be a major sponsor of the steer show and will allocate funds
how they deem appropriate.
Prizes – All prizes and placings will be announced only at the banquet on the final night, with
the exception of conformation.
Entry deadline is June 1st each year and no entries postmarked after this date will be
accepted.
Little Chars Program – Rules & Regulations
The Little Char program will be run by the elected CCYA Alumni Director(s) throughout the
course of the Conference & Show. The premise around the Little Char program is that the kids
have the ability to participate in similar activities that the older Juniors partake in but have
shorter days, and less expectations. This is NOT a babysitting service and parents are still
responsible for their child throughout the course of the week and making sure their Little Char
gets to their scheduled programs.
● Ages: 5-7 years old as of January 1st. Participants do NOT have to be siblings of other
CCYA Junior members to participate.
○ Little Chars are still expected to pay their CCYA Membership & registration fee to
be able to participate.
● Little Chars are not allowed to enter an animal. NO EXCEPTIONS. They will have their
own showmanship class where they are permitted to borrow an animal or coordinate
with their senior member to find a quiet animal to use.
○ All participants will enter the ring with a Senior member to assist for safety
reasons.
● The Little Chars will have their OWN herdsman group. This will always be dependent on
entries but groups will be decided at the discretion of the CCYA Alumni Directors.
● There will be multiple educational and skill competitions designated specifically for the
Little Chars. This will include categories such as judging, marketing, animal care, etc.
However, the little chars will not be permitted to enter the conference competitions
outside of the Little Chars with the exception of Photography & Art (No points will be
allocated).
Conference and Show Regulations
1. Absolutely NO parent/adult participation will be allowed. Barn bosses and
ambassador volunteers will be monitoring the barn, wash rack, and tie-out areas at
all times. Any parent/adult participation may result in a deduction of aggregate and
scholarship points from the youth member in question. Senior members are
encouraged to help the junior members. This includes the set-up and take-down of
the stall.
2. All purebred animals entered must be registered with the CCA. Crossbred heifers do
not need to be registered. Calves should be registered and must be tattooed by show
day. No tattooing will be permitted on the grounds. Original registration certificates
must accompany purebred cattle to the show, including all calves. Tattoos will be
checked upon arrival.
3. Members showing animals that are owned by them or their family can enter as many
head as they choose, keeping in mind that they are responsible for showing their
entries. Members who cannot bring their own cattle but wish to enter the
conformation show may enter an animal belonging to another Charolais breeder.
However, members entering cattle not owned by them or their family are limited to
only one entry.
4. Animals must be shown by the youth member entering them unless more than one
entry is in the class.
5. There is no limit placed on the number of entries per class, however, the youth will
be responsible for finding other youth to help them show.
6. Calves may be split off cows, but in the case of a pair that goes on to the finale, the
heifer calves will be ineligible to be shown in the heifer calf division.
7. Classes will be determined after the entry deadline and will contain approximately
eight to ten animals.
8. All animals are expected to be broke to lead. If in a case where the animal in
question poses a threat to the safety of the other participants, the owner will be
asked to remove the animal from the show barn. The Barn Boss will have final say.
9. A bedding base will be provided to all participants. Exhibitors will be responsible for
their own feed for the duration of the conference. Night tie-outs will be available, as
well as pens for nurse cows.
10. For all CCYA members the consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited on
show grounds or during any show activities. Failure to comply with this rule will result
in immediate disqualification and removal from the remainder of the Conference and
Show.
11. Unethical fitting practices are not allowed in any of the competitions. This includes
the use of artificial tail heads, and artificial fillers such as stomach filling; unless
deemed necessary by a veterinarian.
12. Surgical alterations are not permitted on any animal being exhibited, unless a valid
veterinarian certificate is produced that explains the reason for them.
13. All participants are expected to participate in all events, unless illness forces them out
of competition. Youth not participating in all events will lose aggregate and
scholarship points. Any youth that chooses not to participate in all events may be
disqualified from all competitions and show, and forfeit any prizes or awards that
they may have otherwise earned.
14. The show shirt is expected to be worn for confirmation, showmanship and team
grooming. Name tags are to be worn at all times.
15. The hosting CCYA Conference and Show Organizing Committee, Agricultural Society,
or any of the show advisors or volunteers is not responsible for loss, injury or
accident to animals, property or humans for the duration of the Conference and
Show.
16. By submitting the attached entry form and signing the Code of Conduct, the youth
member agrees to abide by all the above rules and regulations for the competitions
and the cattle show. A group of adult advisors, including the Youth Coordinator have
been appointed by the hosting Conference and Show Organizing Committee to
enforce the rules and regulations. The hosting CCYA Conference and Show Organizing
Committee has the power to, at any time, intervene to settle disputes or clarify the
rules.