Jimmy Bankston

Between Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Bachelor,  MabelJo knocks out the few little things for which she gets the big bucks. Stuff like planning the calendar for the year, booking the venue, contracting the cattle, coordinating the judge(s), arranging travel and lodging for same, sending show notices to NCHA, taking entries, policing eligibility, announcing the show, getting a class rep, managing the “draw,” ordering cattle changes, keeping the scores, calculating payouts, writing checks, balancing the books, sending results and video to NCHA, keeping the candy dish full, listening to useless griping and stale jokes. Smiling throughout or at least, not scowling. Those “big bucks”? Being over-compensated is not something MabelJo has to worry about.

A show secretary also answers the same questions time and again, every show, every class. This might shock you, but you aren’t the only person entering on show day; rules apply to you, too. On occasion, MabelJo forgets her own name, so don’t be offended when she forgets yours. Yes, you need your card – non-pro and amateur. And your horse’s papers with YOUR name on them. Dummy! EVERY SHOW!

MabelJo prolly has a ’puter program and will only need this at your first show of the year or if you change ponies. A prudent person would just put several in the book for whatever.

Cutting is a culture of fairness. Competitors holding herd and turning back. Our whole deal is Golden Rule-centered. I love this and respect it. There is no situation that does not have either complete fairness built in or a way to assure fairness. Some of you will not agree. If something is truly unfair at a show, a rule – written or unwritten – is being broken, and the members are allowing it. Never seen otherwise. Don’t show there; they will go away quick enough. Yes, it can be a hardship. Doing what is right often is.

Good MabelJos are the top of the pyramid in assuring fairness. Good MabelJos don’t have favorites, at least that you can tell. They would not be human if they didn’t appreciate cutters who take care of their business. They know the rules, they stick to them, they enforce them, they refuse to be bullied, they do what’s right. They make people mad, not because they want to but because spoiled people pitch fits.

Cornbread thinks: Rules tend to work best when evenly applied. Now that I have you all guilted up and open to suggestion, let’s talk about your part. Or rather, I’ll write, you read.

Just because you have an amateur card doesn’t mean you have to act like it. Get your fertilizer together and act professional. If you think getting in a urinating match with MabelJo won’t affect your trip to the herd later, you need to be held back a grade.

Cornbread hint: Make several copies of your papers with your card not covering vital info all on one sheet. Put more than you need in binder in the truck with CHECKS. This is so simple even a trainer can do it.

The phone number in the Chatter is probably a cell or home phone. MabelJo is on-call for emergencies; she doesn’t get to turn it off. Don’t call or text at 3 a.m. to ask who the judge is or if there are stalls. I have never not been able to find a cutting from the directions in the Chatter. At least read them and give it a shot. Or better yet, ask a loper. They have maps inside their eyelids to everywhere important – arenas and parties, anyway.

When you pay out and it’s been a chicken feathers kina day; it’s not her fault, just write the check and be gone with you. Even better, take her a signed check before you do anything else. Do not forget to pay out. She has only a limited window to make a claim with NCHA for a skip or a bad check; don’t be mad if you get turned in. It may not be your fault but it dang sure isn’t MabelJo’s.If you get there early, you will draw up late. If you get there late, you will draw up early. She doesn’t do this on purpose. It is much appreciated and important to enter the day before for the last day. This can save the Affiliate and MabelJo from paying for cattle they don’t need. It can also keep a show from running out of fresh cattle. If there is a preferred motel, try and stay there, it might mean a free room. Not for you, for MabelJo.

Cornbread Thinks: All this picayune bovine manure stuff is for YOUR benefit. It came about because something was unfair. If something was unfair to anyone anytime then eventually it will be your turn. MabelJo doesn’t want that to happen to you. She loves you. You should love her.

You can reach Cornbread (Jimmy Bankston) at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or see him on Facebook.

Read more Cornbread Thinks here.