Ohio Holstein Women

Spotlight on: Louise Harding

Hello, Ohio Holstein Women!

Since we have not had regular meetings or business to attend to for a while we thought we’d use the page to get to know the officers of the Ohio Holstein Women and this issue is about our president, Louise Harding.

How did you start with the Holstein breed?

I started 4-H in 1960 and my dad said I was not allowed to take a cow to the fair until my brother Larry was old enough to join me. So the next year we entered the world of showing Holsteins. My goal was to win showmanship. The last year I showed I was allowed to take Polly and we walked all summer preparing for the fair. Well, I didn’t win showmanship, but Polly and I took Grand Champion Holstein and went on to win the Champion of All Breeds.

One of the deals with Dad was getting to keep our first 4-H project so I got to keep Dolly a grade cow. Our herd eventually grew to a registered herd and after high school, I began buying my own animals.

What else did you get interested in in high school? Did you only do animal projects?

I loved playing basketball and running track. I was in Home-EC and FHA. My passion has always been sewing and cooking. I have been a 4-H advisor in the same club, Crooked Run Cloverstitchers, that I joined as a kid — an advisor for 55 years, as a matter of fact! The club was all girls sewing projects and is now a mixed club offering many types of projects.

In 1999 I accomplished MCE Master Clothes Educator through the Ohio State University. This qualifies me for judging clothing at the county and state level, which I have been pleased to do.

After high school I pursued my sewing passion professionally sewing for weddings, prom dresses, Swiss outfits and entering many competitions. My aim has always been to go out and win, and I have.

I try to pass that striving for excellence to my 4-H’ers. I tell them, “If you’re going to do this, learn to do it right, and don’t be ashamed to enter a competition to win. You’re capable of it.” I have much equipment and invite the kids over often in the summers to use my equipment for their projects. We aim for perfection with much ripping out as needed. I’m proud of the kids. Two years ago we had 8 sewing projects: all won first place at the county level and went on to take 3 Outstandings at the Ohio State Fair. We’ve had our kids walk off with the prestigious 4-H Clock award for each project.

I’m tickled to have three great nieces involved in the club this year. The club is a wonderful group of girls who are passionate and good and awesome to work with. 4-H taught me wonderful life skills and responsibility and I’m pleased to pass that on.

What else do you want us to know about you?

There are two things I’m very proud of: 1. My father encouraged me to enter cooking competitions, too. In 1970 I took the Homemaker Award in our county and had the championship cake. To qualify I had to get enough firsts in all kinds of categories, so I did cookies and brownies, cakes and yeast breads and got the award! I’ve also entered and won many caked contests as an adult. 2. My last cow with my prefix of LouHar was the dam of Hardingdale Encore Racquell who took Grand Champion at the Ohio State Fair in the Junior Show in 2005. She won lots of shows as a heifer and a cow, but never had a heifer calf. She had seven bull calves; we tried flushing her but nothing came of it. I was proud to have owned her dam and to transfer the ownership of that herd to my brother and his kids.

I was also proud to be Ohio Holstein Woman of the Year in 2006. It didn’t end up being a surprise to me, because they had to tell in order to get me leave the church dinner I was at to come to the convention to receive the award. Another passion that keeps me in the church kitchen.

What other occupations use your passions?

In 1998 I started my embroidery business. I put out show banners for county fairs, district shows and the Expo; sashes for queens, shirts, jackets anything you can imagine putting nice embroidery on. Church banquets use my skills all year long.

Well, now you know more about our Ohio Holstein Woman president. Stay tuned for more in the coming months. We hope these life stories encourage you as a farm woman and Holstein cow lover and owner and that when we meet again in person, you’ll want to join us.

“My aim has always been to go out and win, and I have.

I try to pass that striving for excellence to my 4-H’ers. I tell them, ‘ If you’re going to do this, learn to do it right, and don’t be ashamed to enter a competition to win. You’re capable of it.’”

“ “ The club is a wonderful group of girls who are passionate and good and awesome to work with. 4-H has taught me wonderful “ life skills and responsibility, and I’m pleased to pass that on.”