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Douglas wins Brown Swiss breed show at WI State Fair


WEST ALLIS, Wis. - Showing for only the second time at the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Show, 15-year-old Meghan Douglas, Darlington, Wis., took home top honors with her three year old cow, Random Luck S Peekaboo-ET, being name Grand Champion of the Brown Swiss show. Douglas was overjoyed at the news.
"I wasn't sure if it was for real," she said. "I thought 'Did they just hit my cow and say I was Grand Champion?' I just got this tingly feeling."
Douglas purchased Peekaboo as a March calf from Rick Thompson of Random Luck Farms, Darlington, Wis. Having shown Holsteins up until this point, Douglas was looking to start a Brown Swiss herd.
"They seem like they are kind of a laid back breed and they really catch your eye," she said. Douglas also showed Peekaboo this year at the Brown Swiss State Show where she was Grand Champion of the Junior Show. She also plans on exhibiting Peekaboo at World Dairy Expo this year.
Douglas has put in a lot of hours preparing for cattle shows this summer.
"Our first show was June 16 and school got out June 5, so we were working with our animals before school was even done," she said.
Besides working with her show animals, Douglas also helps out with farm chores. Her father co-owns Fay-Willow Farms in Darlington where they milk 220 Registered Holsteins.
The state fair, Douglas says, is a once in a lifetime experience.
"My favorite part is watching the kids and seeing the smiles on their faces as they are walking out of the ring. I also like walking around the barns, looking at the animals, talking with my friends, and meeting new people."
Douglas attended the fair with other kids from Lafayette County, working as a group to keep the animals clean and fed, and teaching the public about the dairy industry. Douglas also participated in showmanship where she made it to the finals in her age division.
Douglas's favorite part about showing is being on the halter.
"It's a great feeling," she said.
Douglas started showing when she was six in the Little Britches Show at the Lafayette County Fair.
The memories made from this year's state fair are not ones she will soon forget.
"My favorite part was when my little sister, Paige, came up to me after the show, gave me a hug, and said good job," said Douglas. "It's just so exciting to have this happen."



Nauman earns grand champion Ayrshire at WI State Fair
West Allis, Wis.- The Wisconsin State Fair proved successful for Austin Nauman, Norwalk, Wis., who received grand champion honors of the Ayrshire show with his senior 2-year-old cow, Family-Af-Ayr Rem Pepper. This is Nauman's fourth year showing at the State Fair junior show, and his first time receiving grand champion.
"She was shown as a heifer, but she was never big enough," Nauman said. "This year I thought she was going to be good."
Nauman and Pepper went back into the ring to compete for supreme champion honors, where they met Tammy Baldwin, United States Senator from Wisconsin.
"She wanted to know what the judges were looking for and how a person that owns an animal can help them look their best," he said. "I told her about trimming feet, making sure they have exercise, and feeding them properly. It was pretty cool."
Though Nauman enjoys showing, his true passion is fitting.
"I got my first pair of clippers when I was seven," he said. "I started going to shows and the older fitters would have me clip the animal's legs and I really liked it."
Not only did he fit Pepper for the show, he also clipped the reserve junior champion Jersey, the Brown Swiss grand champion, and the Guernsey junior champion. Last year at World Dairy Expo, Austin received third at the Youth Fitting Contest.
Austin puts in a lot of miles getting ready for the shows, driving two and a half hours to West Croix Holsteins and Jerseys where his animals are housed.
"I try to get up there fairly often," he said. "At least once or twice a month. They have really helped me a lot and I want to thank them for that."
Nauman, along with his family, own and operate Smokin-Hot Genetics, which was started in 2008. They breed and develop quality show animals, which Austin exhibits at the local, state and national level. Their first year in operation the family had two All-Breeds Access All-American Nominations, and this past year they had their first nomination bearing the Smokin-Hot prefix.
Austin began showing when he was three years old at the Parish 4 Jersey Show in Viroqua, Wis. Since then, Austin has exhibited in shows all around the state and country. At the State Fair, he represents Jackson County while showing and teaching others about the dairy industry.

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