A2O-Unc—lw Farming, Saturday, January 1, 2000
Farm Show Dairy Judge Enjoys Both Sides Of The Ring
(Continued from Page A 1)
judge, I would judge everyone
fairly, whether I knew them or
not,” Day explained. “The best
cow should always win, and I’ve
tried to stick to that principal.”
Fortunately Day has never had a
complaint from any dairy exhibi
tors about his placings. “I believe
that when an exhibitor comes to a
show, they have to place their con
fidence in the judge,” said Day.
“As exhibitors, my family has
never complained to a judge about
a placing. I tell my children that we
go knowing our animals will be
placed, and we have to accept the
placings we get.”
Day and his wife, Ann, have
three children who have all com
peted in the dairy arena for several
years. Matthew (age 21), David
(age 19). and Sarah (age 17) help
ease the cost of showing, which
Day claimed can be expensive.
“If the kids didn’t help, it would
be difficult to keep showing
because of the labor, fuel, and feed
cost”
Now that Matthew and David
attend Cornell University in New
York, the Days don’t even have to
hire professional fitters anymore.
“The boys swap labor with their
friends from other states during
show season,” explained Day.
“They help out their friends at their
local shows, and their friends help
us out at ours.”
The Days typically show each
year at the Pennsylvania Spring
Holstein Show, South Central
Holstein Show, Pennsylvania Fall
Holstein Show, and the World
Daily Expo in Madison, Wi. They
even exhibit occasionally at the
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Pennsylvania Farm Show, taking
Supreme Champion in 1995.
“We pick the shows where we
exhibit based on the weather, time
of year, and whether or not we
have animals at the right stage for
the show,” explained Day.
Both showing and judging dairy
cattle is an essential part of the
Days’ dairy operation. “Judging is
an outlet for me and an opportunity
to meet new people,” said Day. “I
find it both challenging and fim.”
His son, Matthew, has followed
in Day’s footsteps by participating
in collegiate and4-H dairy judging
contests. In 1998, Matt was sixth
high individual in the collegiate
contest at Madison, placing fifth in
reasons. At Harrisburg, he was
second high individual, placing
first in reasons.
According to Day. an exhibitor
can get as much exposure for their
animals at the Pennsylvania Farm
Show than at any show. “The Farm
Show probably has more ringside
spectators than at any other show.
It is an excellent opportunity to
make a good impression on the
public.”
Day is hoping to find a micro
phone at this year’s dairy show.
“Judges should be able to give
their reasons for the benefit of both
the spectators and the show exhibi
tors. Many of the spectators at the
Farm Show don’t understand what
we’re doing out there, and it’s an
excellent opportunity to educate
them.”
Because the opportunity to edu
cate the public. Day also feels it’s
important for dairy exhibitors to
present a uniform image during the
show. “I like to see all of the exhi-
bitors dressed in white and have
encouraged Pennsylvania to enfor
ce that policy at its shows.”
Curtis and Ann own Tri-Day
Farm in Shippensburg, where they
milk 65 head of registered Hols
teins. The Days market their cattle
both privately and at public sales.
To Day, there isn’t much differ
ence between the shows that he has
judged. “It’s always fun to see the
people at the shows.”
“One thing will be different
about this year’s Farm Show,”
explained Day. “It will probably
be the first dairy cattle show any
where in the country during the
new millennium.”
Only three judges will be able to
say that they judged the first dairy
show of 2000. Day is one of them.
And, according to him, “that’s
pretty exciting.”
jy v JitfSWl iy . *-y\ ..u and
one qi four full sisters that the Days showed during 1999.
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