For 168 years, the Schomberg Spring Agricultural Fair has celebrated the area’s agricultural roots, with homecraft displays, livestock shows, and an old-fashioned midway.
In particular, 4-H club members use the spring fair as an opportunity to get an early start to grooming and showing their animals, preparing for the year of competition ahead.
4-H Beef and Dairy Club members brought their calves to the fair on Sunday, for judging in the conformation and showmanship classes.
Conformation is equivalent to a beauty contest for cows, looking for depth, good structure, and an elegant head that shows the promise of a well-bred animal.
Showmanship is all about skill: the ability of the young 4-H members to lead and show their calves to the best possible advantage, keeping an eagle eye on the judges for their cues, and handling frisky, young animals out in the ring for the first time this year.
