The Beeton Fall Fair maintains ties to its agricultural roots, hosting 4-H livestock shows that include the Beeton-Bradford 4-H Dairy Club’s Achievement Day.
4-H has been a premier youth agricultural organization for more than 100 years, encouraging members to learn by doing. The non-profit organization has clubs in all 10 provinces and around the world, engaging and encouraging young people between the ages of six and 21. Youth come together to learn through hands-on activities and mentoring, and develop their leadership skills.
The four Hs stand for head, hard, hands and health – a commitment on every level, to the club, community and country.
Among the 4-H Clubs represented at the Beeton Fall Fair were the Miniature Horse club, 4-H Sheep, Dairy and Beef. Kids showed their animals in the ring, judged on both showmanship – their ability to control their animal, and show it to best advantage – and on conformation.
In interclub competition, Beef Champion Showperson was Emma Hulse and Reserve – Riley Grant. Sheep Champion Showperson was Nicole Kneeshaw, and Reserve – William Kneeshaw. Dairy Champion Showperson was Emma Finch, and Reserve – Matthew Lange.
Grand Champion Showperson was determined by having the young champions switch animals, stepping out of their comfort zones to handle unfamiliar breeds. Winner was Emma Hulse, showing not only her own beef calf, but a dairy heifer and a lamb in front of the judges.
The conformation classes are the equivalent of a beauty pageant for beef, dairy and sheep – but the judges look for more than just glossy coat and a pretty face. Judges spoke of balance, openness of ribs, the “dairy-ness” of heifers, bone structure and lines.
Champion Dairy Calf was the intermediate heifer shown by Olivia Walker. Reserve went to Brooklyn Lloyd for her summer yearling. Honourable mention went to Matt Lange, who also showed a summer yearling heifer.
Most of the dairy calves shown were “black and white” holsteins. Only a handful were other breeds, such as Lloyd’s Jersey calf.
The Lloyd family raises mostly holsteins, but Brooklyn asked for a Jersey cow for Christmas - and unlike many of the young competitors, she owns the calf that she showed at the fair.
That made her achievement extra special. As a member of the Beeton-Bradford Dairy Club, she was her club’s Champion Showperson, and her calf Sprucetone Joel Taz, which was Reserve Champion in interclub competition, was Champion of the Beeton-Bradford 4-H Dairy Club.
