Woodstock--Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock hosted its first 4-H dairy clinic and show on the weekend of June 24-25, with 12 Vermont 4-H dairy members camping overnight on the grounds with their dairy animals.

The 2023 Youth Invitational Dairy Show featured a clinic on Saturday with interactive activities designed to help participants succeed in the show ring. To help them better understand what judges look for, Jen Thygesen, Tunbridge, conducted a judging workshop with animals from the Billings Farm. She also led a fitting and showing workshop where the 4-H’ers took part in a practice round with their own animal to learn how to show it to its best advantage.

Museum visitors were invited to stop by the Show Barn to meet the 4-H kids and their animals. The 4-H’ers also had an opportunity to participate in some of the Billings Farm and Museum’s regularly scheduled activities including observing ricotta cheese and butter making demonstrations and crafting a dairy cow headband, among other fun experiences.

On Sunday the dairy show was held, beginning with the fitting and showing competitions, followed by the conformation classes.

The results for the fitting and showing championships were as follows. These were arranged according to the exhibitor's age. Scoring and placements were based on how well each exhibitor presented and handled his or her animal.

  • SENIOR FITTING AND SHOWING (ages 14-18): Patty Bruce, Wallingford (first)
  • JUNIOR FITTING AND SHOWING (ages 11-13) Savannah Labor (first) and Randi-Lynn Labor (second), both from Rutland
  • BEGINNER FITTING AND SHOWING (8-10): Gracie Bromley, Wallingford (first) Ellie Riendeau, Wheelock (second); Daniel Bruce, Wallingford (third); Kinnley Riendeau, Wheelock (fourth)

The top two finishers in each age division competed for the title of Overall Fitting and Showing Champion, which went to Patty Bruce. Gracie Bromley was named Reserve Fitting and Showing Champion.

Younger exhibitors, including 4-H Cloverbuds (ages 5-7) and Novices (first time showing), were eligible to participate in fitting and showing for the experience but were not placed. They were Carter Bruce, Wallingford; Larkin Fadden, Sutton; Sadie Labor, Rutland; and Mack Parsons and Thomas Poro, both from Florence.

Eight-year-old Faith Bromley of Wallingford also registered for the show but had to withdraw from the competition. She attended the show to enthusiastically support and cheer for her fellow Otter Creek 4-H Club members and other competitors.

At the conclusion of the fitting and showmanship classes, all exhibitors, including the Cloverbuds and Novices, competed in conformation classes, arranged by breed and age of the animal. The animals were judged on condition, physical structure and overall appearance. Several 4-H’ers entered animals in more than one breed class.

Grand Championships, listed by breed, were won by the following:

  • AYRSHIRE: Gracie Bromley, Wallingford, with her spring yearling, Bromley Dynamic McFlurry
  • BROWN SWISS:  Ellie Riendeau, Wheelock, with her spring calf, Gypsy
  • GUERNSEY: Thomas Poro, Florence, with his spring calf, Walnut Ridge TK Nutella
  • HOLSTEIN: Daniel Bruce, Wallingford, with his winter calf, Sherpa
  • JERSEY: Patty Bruce with her fall calf, Sandra

All five Grand Champions competed for All Breeds Supreme Champion, with Daniel Bruce capturing the title.

The clinic and show were made possible, thanks to the generosity of Billings Farm and Museum, which provided the venue at no cost and treated the 4-H’ers to a Saturday night pizza party and breakfast pastries the following morning. Every participant also received a gift bag, courtesy of Billings and Farm Credit East, and scholarship money from Townline Equipment.

The event was sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H and organized by Molly McFaun, UVM Extension 4-H educator for Orange and Washington Counties. She was assisted by Melissa Bovey and Megan Parsons, both from Florence; Sarah Bromley, Stephen Bruce, and Melissa Riendeau, all from Wallingford; and Jen Thygesen, Tunbridge.

To learn more about the Vermont 4-H dairy program, contact Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension livestock educator, at (802) 656-7641 or wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.