Cheat Codes- Show Stock Edition

Send us Fan Mail Thinking about going to your first jackpot show… but not sure where to start? This episode is for you. We sat down with Daren Chambers and Cody Long from the Heartland Youth Show Lamb Circuit (HYSLC) to break down everything a show family needs to know before pulling into their first jackpot. From finding and entering shows on the Showman app… to what actually happens when you arr...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever felt like you’re just guessing when it comes to feeding your animals… this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with Rob Cooper , a PhD-level ruminant nutritionist with over 20 years of experience developing feeding programs for large-scale cattle operations, to break down what actually matters when it comes to feed, supplements, and performance. We...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Cheat Codes , I sit down with Kaid Panek—someone who’s just a couple years ahead of me in the show stock world and still very much in the trenches figuring it out. This isn’t a polished “expert” interview. It’s a real conversation between two show dads comparing notes, sharing mistakes, and trying to shortcut the learning curve for anyone getting started. We tal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Cheat Codes: Show Stock Edition , we sit down with Allison May of Pinnacle Livestock Solutions to unpack one of the most misunderstood forces in the show stock world— perception . From the way animals are presented in sale photos to how families show up at jackpots, perception quietly influences outcomes at every level. But what does that actually mean for famil...

Send us Fan Mail What do fitters actually see when your animal walks into the barn? In this episode of Cheat Codes: Show Stock Edition , Tom sits down with experienced fitter Troy Goretska to talk about what separates average projects from great ones — and why most success in the show barn comes down to daily habits, consistency, and good management , not just feed or supplements. Troy shares how...

Send us Fan Mail Cheat Codes Debrief – Moving Day, Barn Setup & What’s Next The last few weeks have been a little chaotic behind the scenes. After a lot of waiting and moving parts, we finally closed on our new place and are now in the middle of getting everything moved, cleaning up the show barn, and getting the animals settled in so we can get back into a normal routine. Because of that, the...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a kid doesn’t start showing livestock at five years old? In this episode of Cheat Codes: Show Stock Edition , Tom sits down with father–daughter duo John Lemley and Kaytlynn Lemley to talk about late starts, family pressure, entrepreneurship, and what the barn really builds in kids. Kaytlynn didn’t grow up in the show ring. She tried dance, volleyball, band, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this Weekly Debrief episode of Cheat Codes — Show Stock Edition , Tom shares another real-time update from the barn — the wins, setbacks, and lessons that come with learning livestock management alongside family. This episode revisits a previous situation involving a ewe with a prolapse, walking through the treatment decisions, a follow-up vet visit, and the outcome after getti...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Cheat Codes: Show Stock Edition , Tom sits down with Becky Drlik and Sadie McClung to break down the world of online livestock sales and auctions . Together, they walk through how online sales actually work, what buyers should expect, and where families often get tripped up. From bidding and payment processes to understanding sale terms like flush rights, shared...

Send us Fan Mail Cheat Codes: Weekly Debrief is a short, weekly mini-podcast documenting real-time lessons from the barn — the wins, the setbacks, and the decisions in between. This isn’t a clinic or expert advice. It’s documentation.  We share what we tried, why we tried it, what worked, and what didn’t as we learn in real time. Each week we break down: What went well What didn’t What we learned...

Send us Fan Mail Cheat Codes: Weekly Debrief is a short, weekly mini-podcast documenting real-time lessons from the barn — the wins, the setbacks, and the decisions in between. This isn’t a clinic or expert advice. It’s documentation.  We share what we tried, why we tried it, what worked, and what didn’t as we learn in real time. Each week we break down: What went well What didn’t What we learned...

Send us Fan Mail Buying your first show calf or show lamb can be the most intimidating part of the entire show stock journey — especially for parents who didn’t grow up in the industry or who feel overwhelmed by how much has changed. In this episode of Cheat Codes — Show Stock Edition , I sit down with Philip Doty, a breeder to talk honestly about the buying process from the breeder’s side. We bre...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 1: Feeling Behind in the Show World? You’re Not Alone. If you’re a parent stepping into show cattle or show lambs and thinking, “Everyone else seems to know what they’re doing but me,” this episode is for you. In this first episode of Cheat Codes: Show Stock Edition , I share why the show stock world feels so confusing for parents — even those with past livestock experienc...