2018 Cattle Barn Stalling Guidelines
As the 2018 Oklahoma Youth Expo is fast approaching, it is imperative that teachers, parents, and extension agents do an ample amount of planning prior to arriving at OYE. Where 90% of issues occur is when people show up and they do not know where to stall and have not communicated with their teacher or others in a supervisory position. As space becomes more and more limited, please follow these very important pieces of advice.
1.Communicate – Communicate with the teacher, parents, extension, not just within your county, but also in your community. It used to be that space issues occurred within counties. Recently, we have had issues with space within communities. This falls back on the teacher not doing their planning prior to the show. Step up and take charge.
2.We stall cattle, we do not stall tack. Our first priority is making sure we have enough space for all cattle. This is where the communication also is important. Plan for the number of chutes, show boxes, etc. and do not bring more than you need. Once all the cattle are in, space for tack can be distributed, but it is likely that we will be stalling on both sides of the aisle this year, not just the north side.
3.Counties that have had previous crowding issues are dealt with accordingly. If you cannot get along within your county, we have special stalling locations for you where you can easily work through your issues and not disrupt the individuals that are there for a great experience at OYE.
4.It should be noted that most cases, when there are space issues, they are self-inflicted. Either you bring more than you need, or the way you made stalls has created space issues. Please follow these examples of proper set up:
INCORRECT SETUP: Please note on this example the number of divider panels. Each panel decreases space by ½ to 1 whole beef animal. Communication is essential to avoid using divider panels except for between schools, and preferably between counties when possible.
INCORRECT SETUP: In this example, there is an excessive amount of equipment for the number of head for this group. Please examine what you are bringing and the amount of equipment needed for the show. If we have to stall on the south side, this will be moved to allow for cattle to stall. Another reason to make sure you adequately stall on the north side.
INCORRECT SETUP: While nice, this is another example of a county that was crowded out because of too many dividers.
CORRECT SETUP: This is an example of a school that has appropriately stalled. No dividers; youdo not need dividers to place fans in appropriate places through the stalls, and it is easy to keep clean. This also encourages students to work together to keep stalls clean and develops teamwork.
CORRECT SETUP: This is another example of a neat, clean, and open display. Make sure that you start all the way to the end of the aisle or where your stalls start. DO NOT LEAVE A GAP for chairs, tables, cooking, or other tack.
If you only entered 1-2 head, and you bring a fan cage for three head, this is one of the contributing factors that affect space. Plan and visit with the schools in your area and county. If a county gets crowded out, the only option is to stall on both sides of the aisle.
Please note in the pictures that you will need to bring panels for the front of your stalls to tie with. It is recommended to bring some 2x4’s to create space between the wall and your panels.
ELECTRICITY – is always an issue. You cannot plug two blowers in at once. It is recommended that if you plug a blower in; unplug the fan(s). You cannot run 2 fans and a blower at the same time. To report a blown breaker at OYE please submit your information at breaker.okyouthexpo.org
OYE is one of the most memorable events in a young person’s 4-H and/or FFA career. It is up to all of us to make this a positive experience for them. Be courteous, accommodating, and generous when it comes to helping everyone have a great experience.