Thursday, September 15, 2005
Ramrod
Ramrods are very good things. In my part of the country, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennesee, North Carolina and Virginia, they are not often seen. I am familiar with them from national shows. I understand that they are more common in other parts of the nation. If you live in one of those parts, you may want to skip this BLOG entry. For the rest, please read on to find out more about ramrods.
The job of the ramrod is to keep things moving smoothly on the table. The ramrod is neither judge nor writer (table secretary). The ramrod works with the judge to make sure that rabbits are put where the judge wants them to go. But it is the ramrods job to look ahead and see which classes need to be called when. And then make the calls.
Don't wait for the judge to tell you what to do. Free the judge up to judge! Don't make the judge stand around long waiting for rabbits to come up to the table. Anticipate the next class and keep the ball rolling.
The ramrod will consult with the writer to determine how many rabbits are coming up in the next class. By looking at the available juding coops available, the ramrod can let the judge know whether there is space for all of the rabbits or whether they will need to be rotated in.
When the current class is nearly finished, the ramrod will look ahead to see when the next class can be called. The ramrod makes the calls. If a PA system is available, the ramrod may make arrangements for classes to be called or to call for missing rabbits (e.g., "Molly, ask Mike to make a final call announcement over the PA for Holland Lops, broken junior does").
Where there are few rabbits compared to the number of judging coops available, the ramrod may called the following class as well, helping exhibitors get their rabbits into the correct holes to keep things straight.
The ramrod then lets the judge know which rabbits are where. "The solid senior does are in the first ten holes, and the solid junior bucks are in the last twelve." The goal is to have the next class ready when the judge finished up the prior class.
The ramrod should be sensitive to the way that the judge likes to do things. By talking together, you can find out if the judge wants class winners sent back with the exhibitors to be called back later (sometimes with limited space, this is the best option). Other times, the judge may have coops in the back for storing winners until they are needed for further judging. Sometimes a judge likes to line up the class winners in the end judging coops right on the judging table. Just ask, "Where are you going to put the class winners? I don't want to put rabbits in your way."
If there are more rabbits than juding coops, the ramrod can find out from the judge whether the additional rabbits should be held or put into judging coops behind or beside the judge. Again, it is important to check with the judge and work closely together.
Your ramrod duties will also relieve some of the pressure from the writer as well. Generally, writers are trying to wrap up documenting the top placements just at the time that new rabbits need to be called to the table. By separating the ramrod duties from the writing duties, you can each concentrate on what you are doing without feeling pulled in two directions.
You do want to work with the writer, however. You will need to get numbers of the rabbits for the classes and also get the writer's help locate missing rabbits (the writer can narrow down the possibilities of who to look for). Also, you will need the writer's help if more rabbits show up than you you expected.
It is definitely the exhibitor's job to pay attention and get their rabbits up to the table in a timely manner, but people do go to the bathroom, have other breeds to exhibit, or have other duties to attend to, so it is very helpful to do just a little investigating to find missing rabbits.
I often find that the missing rabbit is my own, so make sure you have engaged some help to get your own rabbits on the table while you volunteer to ramrod or write.
So, if you are going to a show this weekend, volunteer to be a ramrod. You will help things go more smoothly and help the show wrap up in a reasonable time. And, by staying involved, you will never be bored at a show and will learn more about your breed.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops Of Distinction"
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG
¶ 11:37 AM
The job of the ramrod is to keep things moving smoothly on the table. The ramrod is neither judge nor writer (table secretary). The ramrod works with the judge to make sure that rabbits are put where the judge wants them to go. But it is the ramrods job to look ahead and see which classes need to be called when. And then make the calls.
Don't wait for the judge to tell you what to do. Free the judge up to judge! Don't make the judge stand around long waiting for rabbits to come up to the table. Anticipate the next class and keep the ball rolling.
The ramrod will consult with the writer to determine how many rabbits are coming up in the next class. By looking at the available juding coops available, the ramrod can let the judge know whether there is space for all of the rabbits or whether they will need to be rotated in.
When the current class is nearly finished, the ramrod will look ahead to see when the next class can be called. The ramrod makes the calls. If a PA system is available, the ramrod may make arrangements for classes to be called or to call for missing rabbits (e.g., "Molly, ask Mike to make a final call announcement over the PA for Holland Lops, broken junior does").
Where there are few rabbits compared to the number of judging coops available, the ramrod may called the following class as well, helping exhibitors get their rabbits into the correct holes to keep things straight.
The ramrod then lets the judge know which rabbits are where. "The solid senior does are in the first ten holes, and the solid junior bucks are in the last twelve." The goal is to have the next class ready when the judge finished up the prior class.
The ramrod should be sensitive to the way that the judge likes to do things. By talking together, you can find out if the judge wants class winners sent back with the exhibitors to be called back later (sometimes with limited space, this is the best option). Other times, the judge may have coops in the back for storing winners until they are needed for further judging. Sometimes a judge likes to line up the class winners in the end judging coops right on the judging table. Just ask, "Where are you going to put the class winners? I don't want to put rabbits in your way."
If there are more rabbits than juding coops, the ramrod can find out from the judge whether the additional rabbits should be held or put into judging coops behind or beside the judge. Again, it is important to check with the judge and work closely together.
Your ramrod duties will also relieve some of the pressure from the writer as well. Generally, writers are trying to wrap up documenting the top placements just at the time that new rabbits need to be called to the table. By separating the ramrod duties from the writing duties, you can each concentrate on what you are doing without feeling pulled in two directions.
You do want to work with the writer, however. You will need to get numbers of the rabbits for the classes and also get the writer's help locate missing rabbits (the writer can narrow down the possibilities of who to look for). Also, you will need the writer's help if more rabbits show up than you you expected.
It is definitely the exhibitor's job to pay attention and get their rabbits up to the table in a timely manner, but people do go to the bathroom, have other breeds to exhibit, or have other duties to attend to, so it is very helpful to do just a little investigating to find missing rabbits.
I often find that the missing rabbit is my own, so make sure you have engaged some help to get your own rabbits on the table while you volunteer to ramrod or write.
So, if you are going to a show this weekend, volunteer to be a ramrod. You will help things go more smoothly and help the show wrap up in a reasonable time. And, by staying involved, you will never be bored at a show and will learn more about your breed.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops Of Distinction"
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG
¶ 11:37 AM
