Primping for the Great Northern Ex
It’s 7 o’clock on a warm August evening, and two teenaged girls are hard at work with brushes and blowdryers. They’re not getting ready for an evening out. They’re prepping their calves for an appearance at the upcoming Great Northern Exhibition (GNE).
The teens are 14-year-old Clara Brooks and 16-year-old Larissa Walker, two 4-H Club members from Clearview Township. Their journey to the fair started last March when they selected the calves they would be working with. Walker says initially, the choice is made on the basis of appearance.
“You look at the rump structure, the straightness of the topline, the depth of the ribs and the squareness of feet and legs,” she explains. “Then you start working with the calf to familiarize yourself with them before you have to declare your choice.”
In addition to helping out with chores like feeding and providing fresh bedding for their calves, the girls spend time each week teaching them to walk on a lead and washing, clipping and training their hair. The weekly grooming routine may include shampoo, cream rinse and leave-in conditioner. The idea, according to Walker, is to train the hair to accentuate the top line to the greatest advantage.
At the fair, entrants are judged in two classes: confirmation, which is based on the appearance of the calf, and showmanship, based on how skillfully the handler presents the animal. Walker says there’s more to it than meets the eye.
“The judge will circle the calf, and then tell you to stop,” she says. “The calf should stop with its front feet lined up parallel, and its back left foot in front of the right foot. The feet should not be spaced too far apart. You are expected to be in full control of your heifer.”
Fortunately, the Holsteins they work with are known as good milk producers that can be quite tame. Walker has been showing calves for the past six years, and has qualified to show at the Royal Winter Fair twice.
Judges are hired by the fair, and are not local to the area to avoid any sort of bias. Walker’s father Collin, prior to becoming a 4-H leader did some judging. Candidates must attend a judging school, then after three years of positive ratings – meaning they consistently rank above the median – they are qualified to judge smaller shows like the GNE. Three more years of positive ratings makes them eligible to judge larger shows such as the Barrie Fair. Only after an additional three years of positive ratings are they deemed ready to judge international competitions like the Royal Winter Fair.
Walker says the judging criteria in the confirmation class relate to the health of the animal.
“You want to see a downward slope of 1-2 inches from hips to pins. Otherwise you can get urine backing up into the reproductive tract creating an acidic environment that makes it unlikely for them to conceive,” he said. “You want to see that the animal is eating well, and has a depth of ribs that indicates more capacity for milk production.”
In the showmanship category, Walker says judges want to see the calf tracking a straight line while walking, and properly positioned when stopped.
Get involved with 4-h
4-H is a non-profit youth development organization that spans 10 provinces across Canada and 70 countries across the world. For over a century, 4-H Ontario has built youth into leaders in their communities and positive contributors to the world. With roots in rural Ontario, 4-H Ontario is open to all youth across the province.
4-H brings together youth aged 6-21 and passionate, engaged volunteer leaders to learn about selected topics through fun, hands-on activities and mentorship. There are also provincial camps, conferences, competitions and national and international travel opportunities available.
In 4-H, youth find a place they can be involved, accepted, valued and heard while developing valuable life skills in leadership, business, self-confidence and more.
The 4-H season starts in early May and wraps after the fair season in mid-November. For a list of the clubs offered in the South Simcoe district, visit 4-hontario.ca/association/simcoe- south-4-h-association/
