TMR Feed, Consistent Grooming Prominent
Dietrich Farm Show Preparations
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
HAMBURG (Berks Co.)
Kelly Dietrich calls her 15-month
old Simmental/Maine Anjou
crossbred steer “Whitcy” a few
things.
First, “he*s a baby,” she said.
“He’s extremely spoiled. We
bought him in Lancaster County
and he’s the most pampered one of
the bunch.”
Kelly and her sister, Kristy,
spend a lot of time with their beef
animals in preparation for this
year’s Farm Show. And they’re
willing to tell you how much time
is spent in grooming champions.
But Kelly won’t reveal the feed.
”We have a certain type,” she said,
similar to a total mixed ration
(TMR) for cows.
Kelly, 17, is the daughter of
Donna and Jim Dietrich, Ham
burg. This will be her fourth year at
the Pennsylvania Farm Show,
where she will also show a
7-month-old purebred Limousin
homebred.
Her sister Kristy, IS, is also
showing a couple of animals at the
Farm Show. Kristy, in her third
year at the Farm Show, will be
exhibiting “Shania” (named in
honor of the country ringer Shania
Twain), an 18-month-old purebred
Limousin.
Shania has proved a dandy in the
show ring for Kristy. Last year at
the Farm Show the heifer already
captured second place in the open
show. Kristy said she was “first in
her class” in 4-H competition as a
junior yearling. This year Kristy is
showing her a senior yearling
(Kristy the Farm Show 4-H
champion last year with a purebred
Limousin, “Moonlight”).
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Kristy also plans to lake “Straw
berry Wine,” a 6-month-old
purebred Limousin, to the show.
This year’s junior breeding
cattle will be shown on “Youth
Day,” Wednesday, Jan. 12, begin
ning at 8:30 a an. in the Large Are
na. Junior steer classes follow in
the same place at noon.
“We spend a lot of time with
each animal,” said Kristy.
Kristy, a freshman at Tulpc
hockcn High School, has shown at
lots of area fairs. They include
Kutztown, Oley, Denver, and
“when there was a Reading Fair,”
she said. They also have shown at
county roundup, die Pennsylvania
Beef Expo (Kristy brought along
Shania), the Keystone Internation
al livestock Expo, and the Tris
tates Jackpot Show in
Pennsylvania.
At Tristatcs, Whitey placed sec
ond, but only because “he was
being a brat,” Kelly said. “He was
not working his body the way it
should be he had his front legs
stiff. The judge likes to see that
movement up front”
For Farm Show, Whitey could
do well, she believes. “He has a
good haircoat and muscling,” said
Kelly, a senior at Tulpehockcn
High School and president of her
FFA chapter.
As for Shania, Kristy said she is
smooth and “has nice muscling for
a heifer.” She also believes the
calf's strength is in its “balance.”
Kristy received the outstanding
beef project and grand champion
steer awards at the county round
up. Kelly came close but missed
the reserve champion project by a
point
But time remains to prepare for
a championship at Farm Show. As
for Whitey, “he’s cool,” Kelly
said. “And he’s so cute.”
Kelly spends about a half hour
every day walking, washing, clip
ping, arid fitting Whitey. Before
Farm Show, it will take about 2-3
hours, she said, clipping and
grooming die animals to get them
ready.
Sometimes Kelly and Kristy
argue about chores, about the ani
mals, and “about getting them
ready,” said Donna Dietrich. Kelly
said riie inspects the work Kristy
does on clipping the animals for
die show. But Kelly said she
watches her friends and other,
more experienced showmen to get
tips for the show.
Kelly said that, during Farm
Show week, die sisters don’t get
much sleep. But a whole week off
from school allows them to see
friends that “we hardly ever see all
year,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun."
Kelly noted that, compared to
some fairs that pay only $3O to
place a steer or $lO for a heifer
(some only award $5 per animal),
Farm Show pays $26 for first place
and $lB for fifth. Fifteen dollars is
awarded to all other placings.
The premium and sale money go
into savings for college.
Kelly has been accepted at Penn
State to study ag business. Kristy
wants to attend Penn State to major
in ag business or dairy and animal
science.
At the farm, Kristy and Kelly
help feed about 100 head of steers.
The Dietrichs farm about 900
acres, including leased land.
The year’s drought had a devas
tating effect on the Dietrich and
surrounding farms. Even the Kutz
town Fair was affected, according
to Kelly. The fair is the rite of the
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annual “water battles" at the close
of the event This year, instead of
showering fellow showmen with
water from hoses, the restrictions
forced them to use shaving cream
instead. “So we had a shaving
cream battle,” Kelly said.
Kelly, who works part-time
milking cows at Way-Har Farms in
Bemville, has thought of showing
sheep at the Farm Show. If she had
all the money in the world, Kelly
noted she would show a purebred
Shorthorn. “They’re awesome
looking,” she indicated.
Kristy, who works at the Way-
Har ice cream stand at the Lcesport
Farmers’ Auction, said if she had
all the money in the world, she
would show a purebred Limousin,
maybe from Express Ranch in
Yukon, Okla. “Limourins are
cute,” she said.
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MIDDLETOWN, (Dauphin
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will have the opportunity to
earn a scholarship this spring
through the Pennsylvania
Cattlemen’s Association (PCA)
and sponsoring animal health
companies.
One $l,OOO scholarship and
two $5OO scholarships will be
awarded to students planning to
further their education in some
facet of the beef, dairy, and/or
veal industries.
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The Dietrichs use Limousin
genetics they make a good
crossbred with Angus for feeder
steers. At the farm, tne Dietrichs,
who use AI, also use a 3-year-old
purebred Limousin herd bull.
Mustang.
Kelly began showing at the
Farm Show in 1997, and Kristy a
year later. This year Kelly is
receiving the FFA Keystone
Degree (the highest FFA degree in
the state, presented at the Farm
Show).
Kelly said she simply can’t miss
out on this year’s Faro Show,
despite any predictions about the
typical snow and ice that is often
forecast.
‘lf I have to walk the steer. I’ll
be there,” she said.
in applying for these scholar
ships. Winners will be awarded
their scholarships at the annual
PCA banquet, March 30, at the
2000 Beef Expo in State College.
More information and schol
arship applications will be avail
able at the PCA booth at this
year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show
or by contacting Jason McCorkle
at the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s
Association office, (717) 986-
0333. All scholarship applica
tions must be sent to the
Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s
Association, 1500 Fulling Mill
Road, Middletown, PA 17057, on
or before March 10.
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