Summer is right around the corner, which to many of us in agriculture and rural communities means one thing — fair season

It’s been a summer where we have found ourselves short on help with a never-ending to-do list

Growing up I always enjoyed the time spent off the farm when my siblings and I would go to local and national dairy shows

Holiday special! Ride along with author Roger Peach, as he transforms from “city boy” to “fair hand” while working on a dairy farm in Pinckneyville, Illinois. Peach shares a raw,...

A few weekends ago, I exhibited at the last local show of my junior show career

The anticipation, joy, excitement, and laughs we have shared over the years on these walks to the World Dairy Expo showring are worth more than the ribbons to me

Life lessons, fun memories, and family traditions make the county fair a special place for many of us

Two-year programs that offer agriculture or dairy related curriculum can be found on the Hoard’s Dairyman online youth page

With each county fair, with each 4-H project, there are lessons learned . . . both for my children and for me

My dad came from a large Midwest family where they milked 25 cows, raised some sheep, had a few chickens, and worked cropland. He was one of seven hard-working farm boys with four sisters

Joey Schilter is the youngest of three children raised on a dairy farm in the state of Washington. His older siblings are “passionate about winning” and have done well in many activities, shared...

All winter we analyze our calves in anticipation for the next show season. Are they big enough? Are they good enough?

Growing up exhibiting Brown Swiss dairy cattle at the World Dairy Expo is by far my favorite childhood memory. The lessons learned, the friendships made, and the memories created in Madison, Wis

As I shoved extra paper towels in my pocket and reached for the familiar feel of the show halter, I could not help but think, “This is it. One last lap.”

Comforting a child during hard life lessons. Losing a favorite cow at any age can be heartbreaking, but it seems to sting even more when you're young. Not only do you lose an animal, but you also lose...

As the mom of kids who show dairy cattle, I love helping my kids develop into young showmen. So many important life lessons can be learned in the show ring. But as the mom who does her family’s...

PDCA showmanship guidelines are designed to help showmen prepare for the big dance. Stepping in unison, circling the ring. One partner wears white, while the other wears spots. Heads are up, tails are...

A twist on pretty will debut at a Canadian cattle show in April. While no beauty pageant exists just for young ladies with IQs above 120, there is a pageant of sorts debuting in Canada next month for heifers...

What accounts for the size differences between calves in the showring?

Editorial: The permanent fix for over-aged show calves There is no doubt that we are taking better care of our calves and heifers these days. Improved housing and ventilation, more vigilant attention to...