2012 Show Dates & Locations

Committee Chairpersons

Phone(270)524-2451

Amy Branstetter

Brandon Bell

Phone(270)432-3561

Phone(606)787-7384

Linda McClanahan

Phone(859)734-4378

Regina Browning

Brett Reese

Phone(502)633-4593

Grand Champion awards for each breed are compliments of:

Kentucky Jersey Cattle Club

District 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America Dairy Shows have proven very helpful in stimulating interest in dairying and promoting and advancing of our rural youth. Many boys and girls acquire good livestock skills as part of these educational programs conducted by agricultural extension agents or vocational agriculture instructors.

Careful consideration should be given to selection of dairy animals for 4-H and FFA programs. Frequently they are the foundation for future herds. For that reason, and to provide the best training possible, FFA and 4-H members should be guided in the selection of animals that possess the quality and heritage for profitable dairying.

District Dairy Shows are sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and cooperating agencies for FFA and 4-H members only.

They are to supplement the regular 4-H and FFA training programs by providing an excellent situation for youth to see good dairy cattle; learn improved dairy practices; gain experience in training, grooming and showing their animals; better evaluate their production practices; and become more inspired to make progress in the dairy business.

1. All KY origin animals for exhibition shall be individually identified on a certificate of veterinary inspection written within the current calendar year.  January 1 through December 31, 2012. See health requirements for more information.

2.These General Rules and Regulations for District Shows have been adopted by representatives of both 4-H and FFA organizations and approved by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

3. Local Rules and Regulations for District Shows must conform to these General Rules.

4. Entries in these shows are restricted to regularly enrolled 4-H Club members and FFA members who are carrying dairy projects. FFA members must have dairy as a part of their approved supervised programs; 4-H Club members will have their dairy projects supervised by the county extension agent. All entries in the FFA Division will be approved by vocational agriculture teachers. All entries in the 4-H Division will be approved by the county extension agent. All entries are to be made ten (10) days prior to the show, but exhibitors will be allowed to substitute animals on show day if they have pre-entered. Exceptions to this shall be presented to the local rules committee on the day of the show. SEND ALL ENTRIES BOTH 4-H AND FFA TO THE DIVISION OF SHOW AND FAIR PROMOTION, ATTN: KATHERINE WHEATLEY,100 FAIR OAKS LANE, 5TH FLOOR, FRANKFORT, KY 40601.

5. All registered animals must be registered in the names of the 4-H Club members or FFA members exhibiting them and their registration papers shown to the superintendent of the show. The transfer of registration or date of ownership, as prescribed by particular breed associations, must be recorded in breed office prior to June 1 of the current year. If the registration certificates have not been received from the breed association, a statement from the association that the transfer has been recorded prior to June 1 will be acceptable.

6. "Non-ownership" project animals will be permitted to exhibit in these shows. Contact the local 4-H agent or Vo-Ag instructor for more details.

7. All grade animals shown must be the bona fide property of the 4-H Club members or FFA members and part of the member's program. Certificates of ownership of grade animals must be shown on approved forms and presented at the time of checking in animals. These forms are to be completed by June 1st.

8. Registered and grade animals will be shown in competition with each other within their respective breed classes.

9. No 4-H Club or FFA member will be permitted to show more than six animals.

10. 4-H Club member or FFA member is eligible to show in four of the six the district shows.

11. All animals must be shown by the 4-H or FFA exhibitor unless the exhibitor is incapacitated (to deprive of strength or ability: Disabled) or has more than one entry in a class, then he may have another youth of 4-H or FFA age exhibit his animal.

12. Only female animals will be eligible to show.

13. Each show shall have a showmanship contest.

14. Each exhibitor in the showmanship contest will show his own animal. In case of partnership animals, the exhibitor who shows or will show in regular breed classes is the only person eligible to show that animal in the showmanship classes.

15. Judges for the shows will be suggested by each show committee. 

16. The Kentucky Department of Treasury will mail checks directly to exhibitors.

17. Any exhibitor violating any of the above regulations will forfeit all premiums won.

18. Crossbred Division has been added to the District and Expo shows. Any animal not 100% pure blood will fall into the Crossbred Division (Ex. Holstein X Jersey ) Please not that this does NOT pertain to Grade animals (as they are 100% pure blood, just not recognized by a breed association, and will show within their respective breed). The Crossbred Division will be their own division and participate as the other breeds do. 

19.  Red & White Holsteins must have Red & White Registration Papers to show in their respective classes.

Appearance of Animals

Appearance of Exhibitor

1. Condition and Thriftiness, showing normal growth, being neither too fat nor too thin.

2. Grooming

a. Hair properly groomed and the hide soft and pliable. Hair dressing should not be used in excess.

b. Hoofs trimmed and shaped to enable animal to walk and stand normally.

c. Horns (if present) scraped and polished.

3. Clipping

a. The final clipping should be done about two days before the show.

b. Head, ears, tail, udder, and elsewhere clipped as needed, but not over entire body. Belly and udder not to be clipped on heifers that have not freshened and are not springing close.

4. Cleanliness

a. Hair and switch clean and, if possible, free from stains.

b. Hide and ears free of dirt; legs and feet clean.

1. Leading

a. Enter leading the animal at normal walk. Move around the ring in a clockwise direction walking opposite her head on the left side, holding the lead strap (or rope) with the right hand quite close to the halter with the strap neatly, but naturally (not necessarily coiled), gathered in one or both hands. Holding close to the halter insures a more secure control of an animal.

b. Animal should lead readily and respond quickly.

c. Halter of right type, fitting properly and correctly placed on animal. A leather halter with leather lead strap is best.

d. As the judge studies your animal, the preferred method of leading is walking slowly backward facing the animal and holding the lead rope in the left hand with the remainder of it neatly, but naturally, gathered in one or both hands. (Face forward when leading at all other times.)

e. Lead slowly with animal's head held high enough for impressive style, attractive carriage and graceful walk.

2. Posing

a. When posing and showing an animal, stay on the animal's left side and stand faced at an angle to her in a position far enough away to see stance of her feet and her topline.

b. Pose heifer with feet placed squarely under her with the hind leg nearest to the judge slightly behind the other one. Pose cow with feet placed squarely under her with the hind leg nearest the judge slightly in front of the other.

c. Face animal up-grade, if possible, with her front feet on a slight incline.

d. Neither crowd the exhibitor next to you nor leave enough space for another animal when you lead into a side-by-side position.

e. Animal may be backed out of line when judge requests that her placing be changed. Many prefer to lead animal forward and around the end of the line. Do not lead animal between the judge and an animal he is observing.

f. Do most of the showing with the halter lead strap and avoid stepping on animal's hind feet to move them.

g. Step animal ahead by a slight pull on the lead strap.

h. Move animal back by exerting pressure on the shoulder point with the thumb and fingers of the right hand as you push her back with the halter.

i. When the judge is observing the animal, let her stand when posed reasonably well.

j. Be natural. Overshowing, undue fussing, and maneuvering is objectionable.

3. Show Animal to Best Advantage

a. Quickly recognize the conformation faults of the animal you are leading and show her to overcome them. You may be asked to exchange with another and show his or her heifer for a while.

4. Poise, Alertness, and Attitude

a. Keep an eye on this animal and be aware of the position of the judge at all times. Do not be distracted by persons and things outside the ring.

b. Show animal at all times and not yourself.

c. Respond readily to requests from the judge and officials.

d. Be courteous and sportsmanlike at all times.

e. Keep showing until the entire class has been placed and the judge has given his reasons.

Additional Events  For 2012

April

13-14

June

11-12

June

21-22

July

26-28

August

16-26

Nov.

3-16