DAIRY

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture Dairy Program holds many opportunities for youth participants to show their animals across the state. With 6 district dairy shows spread across the Commonwealth, 4H and FFA exhibitors can choose to participate in all 6 opportunities. Additionally, three Kentucky Junior Livestock expos are held throughout the summer where exhibitors from ALL species compete at the same time. Exhibitors also have the opportunity to participate in showmanship at all shows if they like. One unique opportunity that benefits breeders, exhibitors and producers is the Kentucky National Dairy Show and Sale. Some of the highest quality genetics are available at this annual event for both in state and out of state producers. This provides exhibitors to option to purchase animals to be shown throughout the summer on a local and national level.

Participants and breeders are also eligible to be members of the Kentucky Proud Livestock Tag Program. Any animal born and raised in Kentucky is eligible for this program and any youth exhibiting these animals with a legitimate Kentucky Proud tag will receive additional premiums and be in contention for Kentucky Proud winnings at the Kentucky State Fair. Exhibitors also accumulate points throughout the show season in competition and the results are presented at a Points Banquet at the conclusion of the season.


District Dairy Shows 

4-H and FFA exhibitors may show at 6 District Shows. 

2025 Show Dates

Name

Location

Check IN Time

Show Time

June 3 (Tuesday)

KJLE East

Derrickson Ag. Complex, Morehead

7:30 AM- 8:30 AM EDT

9:00 AM EDT

June 6 (Friday)

Edmonton District Dairy Show

Metcalfe County Fairgrounds

7:30 AM- 8:30 AM CDT

9:00 AM CDT

June 7 (Saturday)

Harrodsburg District Dairy Show

Mercer County Fairgrounds

7:30 AM- 8:30 AM EDT

9:00 AM EDT

June 10 (Tuesday)

Shelbyville District Dairy Show

Shelby County Fairgrounds

7:30 AM- 8:30 AM EDT

9:00 AM EDT

June 14 (Saturday)

KJLE Western Rivers

William “Bill” Cherry Ag. Expo Center, Murray

8 AM- 9 AM CDT

9:00 AM CDT

June 19 (Thursday)

Liberty District Dairy Show

Casey County Agricultural Expo Center

7:30 AM- 8:30 AM EDT

9:00 AM EDT

July 10 (Thursday)

Southern Kentucky District Dairy Show

Hart County Fairgrounds

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM CDT

9:00 AM CDT

July 17 (Thursday)

Hardin County District Dairy Show

Hardin County Fairgrounds

7:30 AM- 8:30 AM EDT

9:00 AM EDT

July 26 (Saturday)

Kentucky Junior Livestock Expo

L.D. Brown Center, Western Kentucky University

7:30- 8:00 AM CDT

8:30 AM CDT

 

All entries must be in place on the grounds one hour prior to each show and have registration papers when checking in the animal.

Committee Chairpersons

SOUTHERN KENTUCKY

Adam Estes

Phone (270) 524-2451

EDMONTON 

Amy Branstetter

Brandon Bell

Phone (270) 432-3561

LIBERTY

Greg Goode

Phone (606) 303-2105

HARRODSBURG

Linda McClanahan

Phone (859) 734-4378

HARDIN COUNTY

Pat Elmore

Phone (270) 766-8872

SHELBYVILLE

Regina Browning

Corinne Belton

Phone (502) 633-4593

 

Send all Entries both 4-H and FFA to: Shows & Fairs Division     ATTN: Lillie Wood 111 Corporate Drive Frankfort, KY 40601

 

GRAND CHAMPION AWARDS FOR EACH BREED ARE COMPLIMENTS OF:

 

OBJECTIVES FOR DISTRICT DAIRY SHOWS

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.


GENERAL RULES

1. All KY origin animals for exhibition shall be officially identified on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) which is effective from January 1 through December 31 of the current year. All animals are subject to examination by inspectors from the Office of the State Veterinary at each exhibition. If a contagious disease is identified (i.e. warts, ringworm, soremouth, etc.) the animal is subject to disqualification and not permitted to be exhibited again until the animal completely recovers from the contagious disease at which time a new Certificate of Veterinary Inspection should be written for that animal.

  1. These General Rules and Regulations for district dairy shows have been adopted by representatives of both 4-H and FFA organizations and approved by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
  2. Local Rules and Regulations for District Shows must conform to these General Rules.
  3. Entries in these shows are restricted to 4-H Club members and FFA members. All 4-H and FFA exhibitors must be members in good standing within their local 4-H Club or FFA Chapter and have met all necessary requirements prior to June 1st. All 4-H exhibitors must have completed six (6) hours of educational training under the coordination of the local Certified Volunteer Leader prior to June 1st. The supervising Cooperative Extension Service Agent must sign the entry form before the entry is mailed. B. All FFA exhibitors must be a bona fide FFA member in good standing within their local FFA Chapter. The supervising Vocational Agriculture Teacher must sign the entry form before the entry is mailed. 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: Shows & Fairs Division, Attn: Lillie Wood 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601.
  4. 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.
  5. "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.
  6. 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.
  7. Registered and grade animals will be shown in competition with each other within their respective breed classes.
  8. No 4-H Club or FFA member will be permitted to show more than six animals.
  9. 4-H Club member or FFA member are eligible to show in all six of the district shows.
  10. 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 the exhibitor may have another youth of 4-H or FFA age exhibit his/her animal.
  11. Only female animals will be eligible to show.
  12. Each show shall have a showmanship contest.
  13. Each exhibitor in the showmanship contest will show his/her 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.
  14. Judges for the shows will be suggested by each show committee.
  15. The Kentucky Department of Treasury will mail checks directly to exhibitors.
  16. Any exhibitor violating any of the above regulations will forfeit all premiums won.
  17. Animals wanting to show in the Red & White breed must have Red & White registration papers to show in the Red & White Division.


PREMIUM SCALE FOR DAIRY ANIMALS


 

Kentucky Proud

Non-Kentucky Proud

Blue

25

15

Red

20

10

White

15

5

 

Dairy animals will be paid based on the Danish System. KENTUCKY PROUD NON-KENTUCKY PROUD BLUE 25 15 RED 20 10 WHITE 15 5


SHOW ORDER & CLASSIFICATION OF ENTRIES

Breeds: Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, Red & White

All shows will start with cow classes, following showmanship.

 Class #1…. Junior Calf………….…Born March 1, 2025 – April 30, 2025

Class #2…. Intermediate Calf…......Born December 1, 2024 – February 28, 2025

Class #3…. Senior Calf………. …. Born September 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024

Class #4…. Summer Yearling…......Born June 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024

Class #5…. Junior Yearling……......Born March 1, 2024 – May 31, 2024

Class #6…. Intermediate Yearling…Born December 1, 2023 – February 28, 2024

Class #7…. Senior Yearling………. Born September 1, 2023 – November 30, 2023

Class #8…. Cow -2 years old………Born September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023

Class #9…. Cow -3 years old………Born September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022

Class #10...Cow -4 years old………Born September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2021

Class #11...Aged Cow……………. Born before September 1, 2020

*Any yearlings in milk will be shown in the 2-year-old class*


HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DAIRY SHOWS

  1. Brucellosis - No test required.
  2. Tuberculosis - No test required. 
  3. Other Disease Requirements. Cattle infected with warts, ringworm, pink eye or any infectious, contagious, or communicable diseases are not eligible for entry or show. All KY origin animals for exhibition shall be individually identified on a certificate of veterinary inspection written within the current calendar year: January 1st through December 31st.
  4. The requirements for animal entry into Kentucky can be located at 302 KAR 20:040 and for Sale and Exhibition at 302 KAR 20:065.  For additional information, contact the Office of State Veterinarian at 502-573-0282.


RULES GOVERNING SHOWMANSHIP AWARDS

All District Dairy Shows must have division (by youth's age) showmanship classes with a maximum of four divisions and a minimum of two divisions; division breaks will be determined by each local committee. Awards will be provided by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Each show will have a Supreme Showmanship Contest and the participants will be the Division Winners. An award for the Supreme Showman will be furnished by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Each exhibitor in the showmanship contest will show his or her 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 class.


ADDITIONAL LINKS