A Day At The Livestock Show

How Now Brown Cow? Let’s look at some champion farm animals.

   * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The North American International Livestock Show is a big deal if you raise champion farm animals. The show took over the entirety of the Kentucky State Fairgrounds for a couple of weeks.

I toured around the Livestock Show one Sunday which happened to be the day of the Dairy Cow show.

It takes years to breed competitive livestock. And just like a dog show, these dairy cows were groomed and pampered. Think Westminster with udders.

The dairy cows competed in the show ring along various categories. I didn’t understand all the complicated judging levels, but these breeders did.

There’s a lot of down time between competitions. Farm families stay overnight with their livestock in the fairground barns. They bring tents, chairs, cribs, and crockpots to wait their turn in the show ring.

In the center of the fairground was the show ring. The afternoon I was there, FFA kids (Future Farmers of America) were learning the exacting science of judging cows. Each had a crisp blazer jacket and a big clipboard. They followed the official judges around through the paces.

A big market in the South Wing featured every kind of farm and livestock accessory your heart could desire.

On the other side of the fairgrounds I found a goat show in full swing.

Like the cows, the goats were subjected to the expert ministrations of specialized groomers.

But what charmed me most were the llamas and alpacas. Look at those faces!

A llama obedience trial was underway. Here the beasts and their handlers had to walk through an obstacle course and pose on platforms.

Same as the dairy breeders, goat and llama owners also slept near their animals in tents set up indoors. I’d be tempted to snuggle up to a warm alpaca on a chilly night.

I was absolutely smitten. I want a llama now.

Think one would fit in the RV?