Sixty four Dairy 4-H members from seven counties in East-Central and for the first time the Sudbury District participated in the 10th annual two-day Junior Show held at the Orono Fairgrounds on July 11 & 12, 2016.
The focus of the event is a relaxed, fun, educational, and friendly competition of showmanship and calf conformation.
At lunch time on July 11th trailer loads of calves and kids descended on the Orono Fairgrounds to take part in the two-day “camp”. A big thank you to Dr Lindsay Oxby for taking the time to do health inspection of each of the calves upon arrival. Dairy 4-H members aged 9-13, washed their calves and prepared their bedding packs, and were provided with information regarding, nutrition, heifer raising costs, biosecurity, setting toplines and clipping, show box items, dairy trivia, labeling cow parts and 4-H opportunities.
Later that afternoon, the Senior 4-H Dairy Club members facilitated ice breaker games, and team building exercises. The 4-Her’s spent the afternoon getting to know each other and having fun. To top the day off, all the kids led their calves in a showmanship clinic led by Bobby Jarrell along with many competent and dedicated senior 4-H members, for some one-to-one training.
The following day, 4-Her’s put their enhanced skills to the test in front of Judge Julie MacDonald of Winchester, Ontario. First Place Junior Showperson and Reserve Grand Champion Showperson was awarded to John Whitbread followed by eventual HM Lily Beckett of York. Justyn Benschop of Durham East won the Senior Showperson and Grand Champion Showperson second place was Samara Aabo of York.
Named Grand Calf for the day was the Intermediate Holstein heifer Beckridge Brokaw Lavita of Lily Beckett of York, Reserve to the winning senior calf of John Whitbread Enniskillen E O Di of Durham East, and HM to winning junior calf Phoenix Gold Rene the project of Keaton Phoenix of Durham West. Also in the champions parade were second places entries of Grace Hawman with Tomalyn
Dempsey Delta, Jake Buckley with Kawartha Doorman Belle, Amy Grieve with Wedgwood Seaver Misty and the yearling heifers from Sudbury members Jacob Campbell with Lacloche Watson Periwinkle 92 and Adrian Carney with Lacloche Redesign Evergreen 74.
Not enough can be said about the invaluable donation of time, energy and enthusiasm of all the senior 4-H members and graduates of the junior 4-H program – a sincere thanks on behalf of the 64 participants.
Each year, the highlight of the event comes at the end of the show when one lucky participant is presented with a show box painted with the 4-H logo. This year’s recipient via an elimination draw was Hailey Towers of Durham West. All participants were awarded a prize following the show. A special thank you to parents, chaperons, participants, sponsors and the organizing committee.
