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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The first Kentucky Kow-A-Rama is expected to attract dairy exhibitors from throughout the United States to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center April 9-10.
About 400 dairy cows are expected for the Kow-A-Rama, which will follow the 43rd annual Kentucky National Dairy Shows and Sales on April 7-8, also at the state fairgrounds. The new event will offer $17,000 in cash prizes for winners of classes for five breeds of dairy heifers and cows. Unlike the Nationals, exhibitors competing in the Kow-A-Rama will not be required to sell their prized cattle.
Bryan Proctor, dairy coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division of Show and Fair Promotion, said dairy exhibitors came up with the idea for the Kow-A-Rama.
“They thought it would be a great way to improve our Kentucky Nationals, to bring in some big-time show cattle from out of state,” Proctor said. “We’ll have cattle coming in from all over the U.S., from as far away as California and New York.”
Eunice Schlappi, Dairy Cattle Marketing Specialist for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture said: “The Kow-A-Rama showcases our youth who are going to be our future producers. This is a good time to be involved in the dairy industry in Kentucky after back-to-back lean years in 2002-03.”
Proctor is expecting an increase in the 300 head that were shown in the Nationals last year. Exhibitors in the Nationals will compete for $40,000 in premiums divided among five breeds – Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein, and Jersey – at $8,000 each. All five breeds also will be shown during the Kow-A-Rama.
Rodger Bingham, deputy director of the KDA’s Office of Agriculture Marketing and Product Promotion, will speak at the show ring April 8 at 8:30 p.m. Bingham was known as “Kentucky Joe” on the CBS-TV show “Survivor.”
For more information on the Kentucky National Dairy Shows and Sales and the Kow-A-Rama, contact Proctor at (502) 564-4983.
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