We caught up with judge Barrett Carlisle before he steps “Inside the Ring” to sort the Ewe Show at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. Learn more about Barrett below…
How do you ensure consistency in your judging decisions across different shows?
Like many people, I’m a visual learner, and I think it applies to evaluating livestock. Whether I’m looking at babies at people’s places, or judging a show, I always have an image in my mind as to what “ideal” animal I am after. That image seldomly changes. It’s just a matter of finding the one that comes to you that day that’s closest to that image. I also have a few traits, or pieces, that I am just not going to tolerate if they aren’t good enough.
What advice would you give to exhibitors to help them present their animals in the best possible way?
Presentation is a fine line for me. If they do not come in the ring dressed like a champion, they aren’t winning. However, if I feel like presentation has been taken to the point of becoming a distraction, I find them offensive and will not use those either. I guess I would say, ask yourself if you were to take that animal straight out of the ring and turn them loose in a pen with a bunch of other sheep, would they stand out because they look polished or would they look silly?
What is your top-quality trait are you looking for when judging, and why?
I want them to come in the ring and hit me, and I think several things contribute to that. A comfortable skeleton that has the ability to move with arrogance, real substance at the surface, and having the right kind of body shape.
What do you enjoy most about being a livestock judge?
I always go into a show hoping to find one that I can think about for a long time afterwards, so that anticipation of those coming in is fun. And at the end of the day, I just like looking at good livestock of any species. Very few things in this business are as enjoyable as just leaning on a fence appreciating something somebody worked hard to create.
If you could attend a livestock show anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I think watching the cattle show at Palermo would be fun!
If you could judge any animal species that you haven’t had the chance to yet, what would it be and why?
I appreciate the best in all the major species that get shown. Watching the best breeding cattle get shown at Louisville is fun and enjoyable. However, and I am not qualified to judge them, but watching a high end pig show creates more anticipation and adrenaline. So, I like tuning into those.
Growing up, did you show livestock? If so what species?
Yes, sheep and goats!
