The above question is one that all pigeon and poultry fanciers ask themselves at some time during their livestock breeding career and as I am a converted follower of the many championship shows I will try to answer the above question to the best of my ability, with the novice particularly in mind.
To numerous fanciers and breeders the exhibiting of their birds is the event for which they prepare their birds during the entire year. If they were unable to exhibit their prize possessions and realize the thrills produced through doing so, then in many instances they might even forego raising pigeons.
On the other hand, there are pigeon and poultry breeders who have never shown their birds and who, consequently, are unfamiliar with its pleasures and profits. The exhibiting of one's birds constitutes a social and sporting phase of livestock rearing and the breeder who omits it from his schedule misses, in my opinion, a great deal of fun and pleasure from his chosen hobby.
Exhibiting satisfies the spirit of rivalry that exists in most of us. The show rules are made by the NPA or an appropriate governing body in whatever line of livestock you are breeding, together with the show management committee.
The qualities of the ideal bird of each respective breed are defined and portrayed by the written Standard for that breed which usually dates back many, many years. Breeders vie with their fellow breeders in producing birds which will come nearest to the Standard in the eye of the beholder which is both the judge of the day and fellow fanciers. Rivalry increases as the competition becomes keener. No one can describe the intense pleasure of a pigeon 'nut' as his bird nears the choice for final placing in a strong class. It is almost as great a pleasure to me as it would be to any golfer being able to out drive Tiger Woods!
There is the joy and pride in winning in good competition, especially if it is in the young bird classes with a home grown bird that has caught your eye all season, it defies all description. Mundane worries and affairs are completely forgotten. Food and drink are also completely forgotten and the absorption in the judging and in watching your bird compete is so complete as to entirely obliterate every other consideration; even the wife nagging in the background!
Each competitor watches every movement of his bird and of the judge. If his pigeon should happen to assume a striking pose, he prays that the judge sees it. If the bird loses station and lets its head get out of the pocket, or crouches and hence fails to show, the owner hopes that the judge was looking elsewhere at that split second. When the judge removes the bird from the walking pen, there is that moment of awful uncertainty. Is it for elimination or for further study? The owner's heart stands still; if the bird is sent back, with it go the breeder's hopes; if it is returned to the walking pen, the owner's heart takes a leap. And so each bird, one by one, is handled until normally only one bird, the winner, is left in the walking pen.
Casual visitors to the show room are literally astounded at the concentration of the exhibitors in the class being judged. It is really a phenomenon which must be seen to be appreciated.
Showing offers to the dedicated fancier the opportunity to compare his best birds with the best of others throughout the land. It demonstrates to him their stronger points and also most importantly their weak points when, without comparison, he may think he has a particularly good stud of birds and not realise how poor they really are.
