Field Day fundamentals by Lisa Bryant
The 2022 field day season may seem worlds away, but planning for a successful event for next summer starts now with reflection, goal setting and developing a strategic plan. If your state hosted a field day this year, now is the time to evaluate what worked and what could be improved. It’s a good practice to write notes immediately as you plan for next year. After determining what could be improved upon, take time to decide what you want your next field day to accomplish. “You need to decide what the purpose is,” said Annette Steffan, one of three junior advisers in North Dakota. “For example, should the field day be geared more toward the kids that show, or should you make it so all kids can come. “We decided to organize our field day as an experience for kids that come from a registered or commercial background,” Steffan said. “Instead of focusing on the show end, we built on herd management, education and beef advocacy.” Steffan and her fellow advisers aim to offer a well-rounded program with their field day. “We strive to develop kids who will stay in the breed and go on to serve on the board.” When planning their activities, she said it’s good to ask what activities are the kids involved in and if you can build on what they’re doing in 4-H, FFA, school or other activities. “I am hoping that we can take what they learn in school and take it to another level,” she continued. In the past, North Dakota has hosted a two-day field day that included a show and a day of learning, but in 2021, the only option was a one-day educational event. The advisers decided to highlight a cook-off as the main attraction, but Steffan said the junior members really enjoyed an udder scoring demonstration and a cattle drive. Leading up to the field day, four Zoom sessions covered Red Angus history, the life cycle of a beef animal, Beef Quality Assurance and beef nutrition as it relates to human diets. On the day of the field day, the cattle drive focused on what the youth had learned from the Zoom sessions. As you develop your field day schedule, be sure to plan extra time throughout the day to catch up. Events always take longer
A cookoff was the main attraction to attract juniors to the 2021 North Dakota Field Day. (Photos by Shaye Koester.) 10
BUCKLE & BANNER | FALL 2021
than you think, plus speakers can talk longer than expected and it takes time if you have to move people throughout events.
Build Your Team Planning a field day is a big responsibility for one person, so Steffan said it’s important to have help. In North Dakota, Steffan serves as the main adviser, but Shaye Koester handles educational components and Sara Lee coordinates shows. “We work really well together and are able to pick up the pieces to make things work,” she said. Beyond advisers, it’s a good idea to establish committees with clear responsibilities. Be sure to establish a chair person to keep the ball rolling on planning throughout the year. And, you may want to have a committee signup sheet at the registration table to find volunteers for the next year. Find a Host Once you have your goals in mind, an early project should be finding a suitable host. Steffan added that hosting a field day is an extra burden on the host family, so it’s important to have a clear understanding of what will be required, as well as how the other families can pitch in to help. You’ll also want to ensure the host can provide adequate meeting space, tents, show facilities, judging contest cattle or other activities. “The host is critical,” Steffan said. “There’s a lot to facility preparation. You need to have a place where people can gather. If you have a show, you need an area to have the show or you’ll need to set up panels for a ring and show out of the trailer.” Steffan stressed the importance of having adequate water for a show. She said the host needs to be prepared with items such as garbage cans, water, tables and bathroom facilities. In North Dakota, they also try to find a camping area nearby for added convenience for the families attending. Brand Your Event Once you do all this work, sing from the rooftops to make sure you have a crowd. Promote your event through means such as your website, social media and mailing or email lists. Be sure to include the adult association in your communications. If you’ll be attending shows or other ag events, hang flyers to get the word out. If any of your activities, such as judging contests and educational programs, are open to youth outside the breed, be sure to include 4-H and FFA leaders. (This can be a powerful opportunity to recruit new people to the breed.) If your location is near another state, invite junior members from that state too. Use your ag network to help promote the field day as well. If other farm organizations have a calendar, social media or newsletter, ask if they would be willing to list your information. Notify Extension offices. If your state has an ag radio network, they might air an interview before the field day or even attend the event. Ask newspapers if they would send a photographer. Consider a “save the date” announcement as soon as you know the initial details, then follow up with more information periodically as you get closer to deadlines and the event. Steffan also recommends calling parents beforehand. “You have to call the parents to get the kids there.”
