If you’ve been showing livestock for a while, you start to realize something important — the show season you’re working toward right now actually started months ago… sometimes even years ago.
That’s why March is such an important month in the barn. While most people are focused on feeding, conditioning, and getting their current projects ready for the ring, the smart show families are also thinking ahead. This is the time when breeding decisions start taking shape for next year’s projects.
And trust me, the more thought you put into those decisions now, the better chance you give yourself down the road.
Planning Next Year’s Projects
It might feel early, but March is the perfect time to start planning what next year could look like. I always like to step back and ask a few simple questions:
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What shows do we want to target next year?
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What species or breeds do we want to focus on?
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What traits actually win in the rings we compete in?
Every show family has slightly different goals. Some want county fair champions. Others are chasing majors or jackpots. Knowing where you want to go helps guide what kind of genetics you should be looking for.
The earlier you start planning, the more options you have — whether that means selecting semen, planning matings, or even reserving a spot on a breeding list.
Evaluating Last Year’s Genetics
One of the best things you can do in March is take an honest look at what worked — and what didn’t — from last year’s genetics.
Think about the animals you’ve fed recently or the ones currently in your barn. Ask yourself:
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What were their strongest traits?
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Where did they fall short in the show ring?
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Did they grow the way you expected?
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Were they easy or difficult to feed and manage?
Every project teaches you something if you’re willing to pay attention. Sometimes an animal might have looked great on paper but didn’t perform the way you hoped. Other times you’ll realize a certain bloodline consistently gives you the kind of structure, muscle, or look that judges reward.
Those lessons should shape the breeding decisions you make moving forward.
Selecting Sires With Purpose
This is where a lot of showmen either gain an edge — or miss an opportunity.
It’s easy to get caught up in the latest hype sire or whatever everyone is posting about online. But the best breeding decisions come from pairing the right sire with the right female, not just chasing trends.
When I look at selecting a sire, I try to focus on three things:
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What does my female need improved?
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What traits consistently win in the show ring?
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What genetics have proven themselves over time?
If a female is strong in muscle but needs help in structure, choose a sire known for soundness. If she’s structurally correct but needs more look or presence, select a sire that adds that style.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s improvement.
Building Long-Term Consistency
The best show families I know aren’t just chasing a single banner. They’re building a program that produces good animals year after year.
That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident.
It comes from paying attention to what works, keeping records, and making thoughtful breeding decisions over time. Every mating is a step toward improving the next generation.
Sometimes it takes a few years to really see the results of those decisions. But when you start raising animals that consistently compete at a high level, all that patience starts to pay off.
Thinking Ahead While You’re Still Showing
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that the best time to plan for next year is while you’re still in the middle of this year.
As you work with your current project, you’re learning things every single day — how they grow, how they handle, what judges like about them, and what you’d change if you could start over.
March is the perfect time to take those lessons and turn them into a plan.
Because the truth is, the champions you’ll be leading into the ring next year are being decided right now — through the breeding choices you make today.
From one showman to another, the more intentional you are with those decisions, the better your chances of building something special in the barn.
