Name:  Buddy Haas

Age: 16

Home State:Elburn, Illinois

Species and Breeds Shown: I show Shorthorn beef cattle

Favorite Breed: Shorthorns
Why?  The Shorthorn breed has become truly impressive over the past years since I have started showing cattle at the age of 8. I love shorthorns for the fact that the cows are great mothers to their calves, have good-great utter quality, and they have become the basis for a lot of crossbreeding in cattle for the fact they are able to add natural lengthy hair. 

Favorite Stock Show: N.A.I.L.E.  
Why? I have shown at NAILE for the past four years, every year brings a new experience. I have experienced showing in the junior and open national pace shows that are held there. I have shown in the crossbred steer division, shorthorn steer division, and the shorthorn plus steer division. Every year I leave happy and I go home with a lot more friends that I have met either at tie outs in the trailers, at the stalls, or just talking to random people in the exhibition center.

Favorite Judge: Jimmy Williams
Why?  I have had the pleasure and honor of being judged by Mr. Williams at numerous fairs. The first time that I truly began to enjoy Jimmy, was at the Illinois State Fair in 2006. Mr. Williams was able to make the show entertaining with his sarcastic remarks, and yet he was still able to pick good functional cattle that everyone liked.  The way he presents himself in the ring allows the exhibitor and viewers of the show to not be bored during the show, and feel welcome with his gleeful chuckle, and bright smile.

How old were you when you first started showing? I was 8 years old when I first started showing. When I began showing I had a Hereford steer, and since my second year of showing I have been continuously showing Shorthorns, or Shorthorn influenced, cattle.

What is your biggest accomplishment in the show ring? So far, my biggest accomplishment in the show ring was at this past state fair. Every year, I have exhibited in the showmanship classes, but with no luck in the classes. This past year, I was determined to at least make the cut out of my class.  In the end, I was Reserve Champion Showman of my age division behind Jake Bloomberg, which did not upset the least bit because of Jake’s continuous success in of the show ring.

Who is your hero?To be able to name one hero of mine is hard, but I am able to narrow it down to two equally represented people. First, one of my heroes is Scott Horton. Scott was the first man I bought a shorthorn heifer from, and I have continuously bought shorthorns from him since my first calf. Throughout the years, I have looked up to him for advice on what to breed my heifers and cows to, and if I have any question about cattle in general, he doesn't hesitate to help answer them for me. And I LOVE talking about the shorthorn breed with him. Lastly, he has opened many doors for me in the shorthorn breed that I am very appreciative for. My second hero is Holly Poad. Holly is mainly a club calf breeder in rural Wisconsin. Through some friends, I was introduced to Holly where I bought a tremendous shorthorn plus heifer that has been a great addition to my herd. Since my first years of knowing her, she has educated me and helped me perfect my technique of raising, grooming, showing, and fitting cattle that has truly helped me today.  Without these two individuals in my life I would not be as far as I am today.

If you could go to lunch with anyone at a stock show, who would it be and why? I would enjoy going to lunch with either Jimmy Williams, or Kirk Steirwalt. Both of these men are tremendously hilarious with their own sense of humor, and I have looked up to them for additional information that they would be willing to share. With Jimmy Williams I would love to talk about the shorthorn breed, and with Kirk Steirwalt I would love to talk about how he got to be where he is today. 

Who is the person who has helped you the most with your show projects? The person that has helped me the most with my show projects is Wilbert Hageman. Wilbert was the very first person that taught me what I know about cattle today, and set the foundation for what I have been able to do and accomplish today. Without him, none of my other accomplishments would have never taken place. 

On a typical school day, what time do you have to get up in the morning? For me, it differs throughout the year by seasons. In the “summer“ months (April- November) I wake up at four in the morning to bring the cattle in and work them before I go to school in the school year. In the “off” months (December-March) I wake up at around six to go to school and tie up calves to break them.

What is your daily routine you use when working with your project? Usually, I am down at the barn before the sun is up in the summer season. I bring the calves in, wash them and dry them. Between drying them and washing them, I vigorously brush the calves with a rice root brush, and roto the calves’ legs for a good ten minutes total. Then, once the sun is down, I re –rinse the calves, blow dry them and let them go.  During the school year, I mostly just catch them in the morning then work them after school.

Favorite tip about showing: For clipping, I always try to remember “it’s not about what you take off; it’s about what you leave on”.  In regards to showing, I always remember “stand straight up, arm straight, feet square, slow, and go right”.

What’s your typical show ring attire? Typically I wear a long-sleeved, button down colored shirt. Then, I always wear starched wrangler jeans with cowboy boots.

Do you do anything differently when you’re in showmanship versus when you’re just showing in the show? With showmanship, I try to get the feet as set as possible in a quick time, and then worry about the judge a majority of the time. In a regular class, I focus more on making sure my animal is set up and then worry about the judge.

If you have a choice, would you rather wash the animals or get them dry? I would rather dry them simply because that’s where a majority of the work is done. Yyou can truly see how you’re working the hair and it is fun to see the hair pop once your done.

Besides showing, what are your hobbies? I am currently in student council and in other 4-H committees, but otherwise showing cattle is my life. Eat, Sleep, Showing Calves… It’s what I do.

About how many shows to you get to go to each year? I usually go to about 13 shows a year ranging from preview shows to national shows and state fairs.

What’s the one show supply you just couldn’t live without on show day? I could not live without a blower and kleen sheen because that is a majority of what the judge is looking at. The fitted legs just look cool once they are done.

Do you have any “good luck charms” about showing? Recently, I have found this one lucky shirt that I have worn when I was Reserve Champion Showman at State, and Reserve Champion Shorthorn Plus Steer in the Breeder’s Cup at NAILE.

Favorite magazine: My favorite magazine is the Show Circuit. Every month it is full of ads for new shows, sales,  results, and awesome bulls that I clip the pictures and hang on a wall in my house.

Favorite web site: My favorite website is facebook because I am able to keep in touch with all of my friends I have made through showing cattle all over the country.

If you have two animals that win classes, who would be your #1 choice to help show your other animal in the champion drive (adult or junior)? If they were steers, I would have Pete Peterson from Illinois show the other one for the fact that we grew up together showing and I have learned a lot from him over the years. If the two were heifers, I would have either Stacey or Kelly Lorenz because they are both tremendous showman and have beaten me in the past with their heifers.

You just won Grand Champion at the biggest show ever. You and your family get a free dinner at any restaurant of your choice. Where would you pick? I would pick a pizza place and just order a ton of pizzas and have them delivered to the fairgrounds so that everyone at the fairgrounds could be part of the celebration. I love to hang out with my friends!