Visiting shows West & East by/par: Krista Cressman, Jersey Canada Restrictions on travel lifted in August for most of Canada and Jersey Canada took advantage of this opportunity to meet and support our members. The trip centered around shows in the West and East, the Alberta Dairy Congress and Supreme Laitier respectively. Having been to 4-H shows and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair many times, I thought I had a good idea of what to expect on my travels! What I discovered on each trip was different, but what remained consistent was a passion for Jerseys. The Alberta Dairy Congress has taken place for many years, and this year was bumped from its place in Leduc in June to Rimbey in August. This would be the first time in 15 years that the Alberta Dairy Congress would again have a Jersey show. When I spoke with Brenda Kozak, a volunteer on their committee, she pointed out to me that Jerseys were increasing in popularity and that it seemed like every farm had a couple! This made me smile as I had been told by Casey Morey that a strong youth program in the West was one key way that the Jerseys were “sneaking” into herds, as many youth have enjoyed showing Jerseys. The Alberta Dairy Congress is run by a committed group and I was greeted warmly by John Mulcair, the volunteer organizer
who took vacation in order to run the show. I had a chance to meet many breeders, including our 2021 Master Breeders Adrian and Vreni Haeni and family. Seeing the beauty and lines of the Lone Pine animals, it was easy even for a newcomer to see excellence! The show had a real feel of energy, youthfulness and opportunity. There were several young breeders, like Awesome Jerseys and Sterling Park, who had an enthusiasm that was evident. Having a chance to participate in a judging clinic during the Congress before watching the Jersey Show was a great chance to ask questions (while holding a newly updated classification chart in my hands to try and see what those with ‘cow sense’ see) and learn. The Alberta Dairy Congress Jersey Show was a great success, even with a few key breeders in the West not able to come due to a wedding! A week later, I headed to Saint-Hyacinthe for the Suprême Laitier. When I arrived, I was wowed by the professionalism of how they handled contact tracing for COVID19, and the classy and truly impressive set up of the show ring. From exceptionally good sound to bilingual announcers and smooth transitions between classes, it was a top notch show. I learned that a team of dedicated coordinators were necessary to make this event happen.
Champion class at the Alberta Dairy Congress, l to r / Classe de championne à l’Alberta Dairy Congress, g à d : Lone Pine Joel Despacito, Lone Pine Victorious Liquorice, Mosnang She’s Gone Viral • Photo: Cowsmopolitan
32 SEPTEMBER / SEPTEMBRE 2021 Canadian Jersey Breeder / Eleveur de Jersey Canadien
John Beerwort, Don Johnston & Robbie Steingruber.
As I settled into a seat and readied myself for the show, I struck up a conversation with a gentleman sitting next to me. I lucked out with where I chose to sit, and the three people sitting nearby became my gentlemen advisors! They coached me on what to look for in each class, what set placing animals apart and what the exhibitors were doing as they maneuvered their animals. A huge thanks goes out to Robbie Steingruber, John Beerwort and Don Johnston for sharing their knowledge and answering my endless questions! My chance to see Dairy Shows from the perspective of a breeder was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the breed. The passion, commitment and enjoyment that the breeders have for showing their animals was evident. To take time away from the farm and show animals is partly about business, but also about community. Out West, where shows are fewer and the distances greater, I admired the commitment it takes to attend, but I also saw how shows are just as much about camaraderie as placings. In Québec there are many shows to pick from, large and small, and the intensity felt higher. Despite the competition, there was a sense of community that remained, and the pleasure at having a place to show the animals which are key to the business of dairy production. Many have told me you need to have a passion to show, and thanks to my experiences in Alberta and Québec I better understand this.
