Young farmers rear cows for showcase
HUGHESVILLE – Cattle-raising contestants got to showcase their cow-rearing skills during the East Central District Dairy Show at the Lycoming County Fair on Thursday.
The show was judged by Joy Widerman and announced by Allen Dohl. It was for the 4H and Future Farmers of America youth ages 8 to 21 years.
“They start at spring calves, and we go all the way up to 5-year-old cows,” said Kathy Weller, Snyder County 4H extension assis-
tant. “They’re looking for the type, the build, the structure and the conformity of the animal.”
Brown Swiss, Guernsey Red and White, Milking Shorthorn, Ayrshire, Holstein and Jersey were all in the show.
Levi Karchner, of Nescopeck, won Grand Champion of Ayrshire.
“I bought her at a sale about two years ago and raised her up,” he said. “I bred her and had a calf.”
He said she won because she was the oldest.
“I treated her well. I conditioned her and cleaned her the best, so she looked the best,” he said. “I treated her right. I was kind, and I fed her correctly.”
He said it’s important to keep the cows clean and not leave them muddy or dirty.
“I’ve been showing cows since I could start doing it,” he said. “I like going to the fairs and meeting people.”
“She gets to go out and eat grass everyday,” said Linda Karchner, Levi Karchner’s mother. “He did great. He started out with Ayrshires.”
Landree Fraley, 12, of Muncy, won first place Spring Yearling and Junior Champion of the Ayrshire Breed with her calf, Lucky.
“She’s a little over a year old,” she said. “I’ve raised her myself. She was very little at first. She grew, and over time, she got better and better. Now we’re here today.”
She said she showed the calf twice before this show.
“I’ve been showing cows for years,” she said. “It’s fun training them. They’re almost like people, and they have different qualities about them. This is one of my favorite cows.”
She said she enjoys the cows’ personalities.
“It’s fun to see what mood she’s in any day. Her mood can be different every day, and it’s fun to see what mood she’ll come out with,” she said.
As far as tips on winning, she said it’s mostly hard work.
“You’re not always going to win, and you have to work hard for it. You try your best and see what happens,” she said.
“She’s really good … She just loves to show. That’s her thing, and she works really hard with the cows,” said Gina Fraley, Landree Fraley’s mother. “Her father loved it growing up, and she has just always taken to it. She strives to work hard … I don’t know what really drives her, but she’s so good at it.”
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