Showing Cows is a Passion!

A week ago I was able to attend the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville Kentucky as the National Guernsey Queen. This national show was the last one that I had the opportunity to attend during my reign. Attending this show was bittersweet, and I loved seeing the passion in the eyes of both the youth and adults that were showing their cows. Since I was crowned the National Guernsey Queen I have not had enough time to be able to show my own cows at any of the shows this year, and I have missed the feeling of walking into the ring! I have been showing cows since I was three years old and my father would hold the cow and I held onto the very tip of the halter! The excitement I felt every time I entered the show ring when I was younger is still the same feeling I have today. The nervous butterflies, the smile I cannot wipe off my face, and the proudness I feel for the cow that I have raised.

Showing is not about the ribbons and trophies, but it is about the passion you share for the cow that you have raised or worked with. Showing is a learning experience in many ways. Not only do you learn how to fit and show your cow the best way, but you can learn responsibility, a hard-work ethic, and how to work with others. Showing has taught me how to lose with dignity and not to be a poor sport, and it has taught me to not boast when I have won! Showing is much more than winning every class, but rather taking the advice from the judge and continuing to improve your herd.

Showing has changed my life in more ways than one, and I will continue to show for as long as I can. The thrill I feel in the show ring does not come from winning (Although that feels pretty wonderful too) but it is from the fact that I have the ability to show my cows to the best of my abilities and show the hard-work I have done for the past year. For those of you who know the feeling that I am talking about and are able to show you are just as lucky as I am. However, there are people who want to be able to show, but do not have the opportunity to get to fairs and show. I challenge you to help someone in your community get the opportunity to show. They do not need to show at a national show, but maybe your county fair or the state fair. Helping others have the opportunity to show helps spread the knowledge of dairy cattle and increase interest in the Guernsey Breed!

If you are someone that does not have the opportunity to show, but you want to learn how you need to prove to the farmer that you want to. You cannot just show up at the fair and say that you want to show. Help on the farm, work with the calf, heifer, or cow you will be showing, and help the farmer in anyway that you can! Hard-work really does pay off!

Getting bit by the show bug has been one of the best things that has happened in my life, and I cannot wait to be back in the show ring next year! If you would like to have the opportunity to show please contact me at jtm286@cornell.edu and you could have the opportunity to show one my families Guernseys or I could help you find another farm near you that you could work with. Showing is something that will change your life for the better!