Dairy Days draws kids from four states
Posted on Saturday, June 14, 2008
BENTONVILLE — Fifteen-yearold Jaycee Smith stated her future career with certainty: “ I want to be an ‘ ag ’ teacher and a dairy judge too. ”
The oldest of five sisters, Smith said she’s spent her whole life on a dairy farm. She milked a cow for the first time when she was 2.
“ It’s what I’ve grown up doing, and I love it, ” Smith said. And that’s why participating in cow shows like Dairy Days going on this weekend at the Benton County Fairgrounds is fun for Smith and other kids who have grown up in the dairy business.
Friday morning, Smith and her family drove two hours from Collinsville, Okla., with two trailers holding 20 cows and heifers for the Daisy Days competition scheduled to begin at 8: 45 a. m. today.
“ I’m very prejudiced for my cows, ” Smith said, who brought seven Brown Swiss cows to show. “ My biggest cow is close to 2, 000 pounds — now that’s a good size cow. ”
Dairy Days began 19 years ago as a chance for kids in the four-state area — Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri — to have another chance to show their cows.
With 30 kids ages 5-19 showing about 70 cows and heifers, the event’s purpose is to encourage the youth in the dairy industry to stay active, said Susan Anglin with the Benton County Dairy Industry Association.
The show was organized by about eight active members of the association and is co-sponsored by the association and the Benton County Farm Bureau Association.
Donations are collected for the event, and any money left over from the costs of setting it up go toward prize money, which is split up by a point system among the kids in the show.
“ The hope is that they’ll turn around and use the money to pay for their projects, ” Anglin said. “ It’s a lifelong learning process. ”
Smith wasn’t concerned about the prize money, but rather about just showing her cows, as she has been for the past four years at Dairy Days
So what is it about cows that has Smith so fascinated. She said it’s their temperament, describing the Brown Swiss breed.
Mack Spears, 11, agreed. He took four black and white Holsteins to Dairy Days.
“ What makes a big cow be gentle and nice ? I like that, ” Spears said.
Spears, whose family raises dairy cows on a farm in Siloam Springs, said he enjoys the friendly atmosphere at the shows he and his family go to.
“ I like missing school to go to the shows, ” Spears said. “ And in the summer, I like hanging out with my friends and staying in hotels. ”
Spears, like some others, attended Dairy Camp on Thursday and Friday morning. The camp, put on by the University of Arkansas’ Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, featured different workshops teaching 4-H kids how to groom and show their animals.
Smith, a member of the Furture Farmers of America, said responsibility is key when caring for cows.
“ That’s the main thing I’ve learned with cows. All this teaches kids responsibility, ” she said looking around the show barn at the fairgrounds.
Dairy Days is the Smith family’s first show of the year.
“ We prepare all year long for these shows, ” Smith said. “ And then the last show of the season comes in mid-October — I hate it. ”
Friday evening’s activities included a 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl, a Silent Auction with proceeds going toward prize money, a dinner for the exhibitors, dairy olympics and an ice cream social.
Today the Pee Wee Showmanship Contest begins 8: 45 a. m., the Cloverbud Showmanship Contest at 9 a. m., at 9: 30 a. m. the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Showmanship Contests are held.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
