Dairy Showed Well at the Clinton County Fair

Dairy Herdsperson Anna Pape says that Clinton County Fair week is always "a fun but exhausting week." One of her favorite parts, she says, is showing off the genetics of the herd. "Every year we seem to bring a better and better group of animals ... even if they don't win first place against other farms, we know that we've improved the herd over the last year and that is very satisfying!" 
The picnic tables near the Miner cows in the dairy barn at the fair is a great place to catch up and socialize with some of the other farmers exhibiting at the fair.  Miner Institute provides coffee and donuts for dairy exhibitors every morning of fair week. 

Here is a summary of how our "girls" did: 

• We had two calves in the winter calf class that didn't do so well - 13/14th out of 17 animals...decent animals, just not as tall and big and dairy as the other heifers.
• One of our favorites (and so lovable!) 3304 is a fall calf and she placed 6th out of 10 in her class - she is a bit stocky for her age right now to place any higher but we are confident that she'll grow into her strong body and be a beautiful strong dairy cow.  
• We brought a summer, spring, and winter yearling - they all placed pretty much in the middle of their class.
• Fall yearling 3093 (who comes from a great cow family in our herd) placed first out of 4 animals.  
• In "Junior Best Three" - a class in which you show your best 3 heifers (bred and owned by your farm) - we placed 3rd out of 8! We tend to do better at the group classes in which we can exhibit consistency in breeding good animals. 

Onto the milking classes -

• Junior 3 year old - 2nd place out of 4 animals!
• Senior 3 year old - 1st place out of 4 animals!!  This cow looks amazing!!  She had won first place two years ago as a heifer as well!
• Aged cow class (6 years +) - she won 3rd out of 3, but in her class was the supreme and reserve champions for the dairy show.  Yes, she placed last in her class but the judge said that she was a beautiful, strong cow that had great conformation, udder attachment, etc and had aged well...just didn't have a chance against the supreme champion! 
• In "Senior Best 3" - the class in which you show your best 3 cows (bred and owned by your farm) we placed 1st out of 2 farms. 
• Produce of Dam class - you show 2 daughters from one dam and we won first place 
• For "Exhibitor's Herd" you show your best 5 animals (2 over 2 years old, 2 under 2 years old, 1 any age, all must be owned by the farm) - we placed 2nd out of 5 farms!!

Anna says that placing well in the group classes really shows off our whole breeding program. "We may not have a superstar cow, but we do have a lot of cows with good conformation.  Our goal at the farm is to have good looking cows that work hard and last a long time - and slowly but surely we're getting there," Anna said.  ​

Research Scientist Heather Dann's son, Jake Perkins showed a March calf with 4-H and she placed 8th out of 12 animals.  It was his first time showing and he did a great job training his animal and taking care of her at the fair. Heather says that Jake nicknamed 3385 "Houdini" since she was good at untying the halter slip knot. Jake learned a lot and had lots of help from Miner staff. Bethann Caston and the calf feeders helped care for the calf while he was training her on the calf hill; Victoria Vendetta provided clipping and fitting advice; Steve Couture provided general support and transported the animals to and from the farm to the fair.