HARRINGTON, De. - You can expect to have a lot of fun at the Delaware State Fair and see a lot of animals. THE JUNIOR DAIRY SHOWMANSHIP IS AN ANNUAL competition AT THE FAIR THAT GIVES KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY to showcase their cows for a prize.
CONTESTANTS ARE JUDGED ON HOW THEY PRESENT THEIR ANIMALS. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO WALK THE COW BACKWARD SLOWLY AROUND THE RING AND THEY MUST ENSURE THE COW KEEPS ITS HEAD STRAIGHT. WINNERS RECEIVEd A RIBBON AND A CHECK.
ONE OF THE WINNERS, ALAYNA CHRISTMAN, SAYS SHE HAS BEEN TRAINING HER COW OREO AND ENTERED THE COMPETITION FOR A PROJECT. "So I'm showing a cow as a project for my animal science class. So basically, I've been training her since February to lead up to the shows at the fair. It entails washing her, caring for her, feeding her, and training her to walk like a show cow does," says Christman. APPOQUINIMINK HIGH SCHOOL TEACHEr, STEPHEN COOK, SAYS HE'S AT THE EVENT WITH 15 OF HIS STUDENTS WHO ARE IN HIS FFA CHAPTER. "It's really just kind of like a team activity. Those kids are out there with animals that they've practiced with before the fair and judges are seeing how well the animals respond to them. Also, how well they cue the animal to respond back," says Cook. THE NEXT DAIRY SHOWMANSHIP IS ON SUNDAY AT 5:00 PM.
