Bruce County 4-H Showing and Fitting Club Achievement Day held at Kincardine Fall Fair

It was a bright, sunny day for the Kincardine Fall Fair, Saturday, as the trailers began to arrive at 9 a.m., carrying loads of Brown Swiss heifers that had been selected to compete this year.

The dairy area was busy with exhibitors and 4-H members getting their animals ready for the ring. This year there were three farms exhibiting 16 heifers.

Sam Johnston was the judge. He farms with his uncle, father, and brother near Listowel. They milk 60 cows, and Johnston also enjoys showing his cattle at different shows across Ontario.

The show began at 12:45 p.m., with the Bruce County 4-H Showing and Fitting Club Achievement Day. Unfortunately, some of the club members were not able to attend. The two members who made it, displayed the skills they learned over the summer.
Johnston examined each of the calves, carefully considering how each member prepared the heifer for the ring. Maria Weber placed first for Junior Fitter, while Sarah Weber was first for Senior Fitter.

The second half of the Achievement Day was a showmanship class. Here, the members were judged on how well they presented their heifers to the judge. Maria Weber won Junior Showman, and Sarah Weber won first Senior Showman and Grand Champion Showman for the Showing and Fitting Club.

With the Achievement Day finished, it was time for the Peewee class. This is for children under the age of nine who want to give showing a try. With help from a couple of older relatives, Luke and Meghan McConnell demonstrated their skills as budding showmen.

Next up, was the Junior Dairy Showmanship classes. There were three classes of showmen (ages nine to 21).

The results are as follows:

Junior Showmanship

• 1st - Maria Weber
• 2nd - Payton Staples
• 3rd - Simon Kramers

Intermediate Showmanship

• 1st - Simon Gubelmann

Senior Showmanship

• 1st - Sarah Weber
• 2nd - Molly King
• 3rd - Courtney Gubelmann
• 4th - Katrina Gubelmann
• 5th - Sam Kramers

Grand Champion Showman

• Sarah Weber

Reserve Champion Showman

• Maria Weber

Honourable Mention

• Molly King

Next, came the combination Open Junior Dairy Show and Brown Swiss Calf Classes. Because there was only Brown Swiss entered in the Open Dairy Show, the two shows were combined to prevent redundancy.

Spring Calf (March 1st - May 31st)

• 1st - Nor Bella Perfection Elizabeth (Nor Bella Acres)
• 2nd - Edge View Desirae ETV (Jaiden Stull)

Winter Calf (Dec. 1st – Feb. 29th)

• 1st - Nor Bella Dixon Pineapple (Nor Bella Acres)
  • 1st - Open Dairy Show
• 2nd - Nor Bella Dixon Sonya (Nor Bella Acres)
  • 2nd - Open Dairy Show
• 3rd - Nor Bella Dixon Elsa (Nor Bella Acres)
  • 3rd - Open Dairy Show 
• 4th - Gubelmann Boxer Dizzy (Gubelmann) 
  • 4th - Open Dairy Show

Fall Calf (Sept. 1st – Nov. 31st)

• 1st - Red Lawn HB Famous Trixie (Jaiden Stull)
• 2nd -Gubelmann Anis Dumpling (Gubelmann)
  • 1st - Open Dairy Show

Summer Yearling (June 1st – Aug. 31st)

• 1st - Nor Bella Falco Pixie (Nor Bella Acres)
  • 1st - Open Dairy Show
• 2nd - Highbeam Famous Thunder (Jaiden Stull)
• 3rd - Gubelmann Perfection Ferrero (Gubelmann)
  • 2nd - Open Dairy Show
• 4th - Gubelmann Boxer Kirby (Gubelmann)

Spring Yearling (March 1st - May 31st, 2023)

• 1st - Nor Bella Easton Daydream (Nor Bella Acres)
• 2nd - Gubelmann Design Cassie (Gubelmann)
  • 1st - Open Dairy Show

Winter Yearling (Dec. 1st, 2022 – Feb. 28th, 2023)

• 1st - Jenlar Rasta Wish ETV (Jaiden Stull)

Fall Yearling (Sept. 1st – Nov. 31st, 2022)

• 1st - Groves View FC Tiny (Jaiden Stull)

Grand Champion Heifer (Open Dairy Show)

• Nor Bella Dixon Pineapple (Nor Bella Acres)

Reserve Champion Heifer (Open Dairy Show)

• Nor Bella Falco Pixie (Nor Bella Acres)

Honourable Mention Heifer (Open Dairy Show)

• Nor Bella Dixon Sonya (Nor Bella Acres)

Grand Champion Heifer (Brown Swiss Show)

• Nor Bella Easton Daydream (Nor Bella Acres)

Reserve Champion Heifer (Brown Swiss Show)

• Nor Bella Dixon Pineapple (Nor Bella Acres)

Honourable Mention Heifer (Brown Swiss Show) 

• Red Lawn HB Famous Trixie (Jaiden Stull)

Junior Herd (three calves owned by the same farm)

• Nor Bella Acres 
• Gubelmann Brown Swiss

Exhibitors Herd (three calves shown by the same farm)

• Nor Bella Acres
• Jaiden Stull
• Gubelmann Brown Swiss

Breeders Herd (three calves bred by the same farm)

• Nor Bella Acres 
• Gubelmann Brown Swiss

At the conclusion of the show, after the calves were bathed and the supplies were loaded back on the trailers, the exhibitors relaxed and visited with neighbours and fair-goers as they waited for the fair to end and everyone could return home.

The farm owners and exhibitors involved with this show, thank everyone responsible for the organization and support of this show.