NEILLSVILLE, Wis. — Spectators strolling through the dairy barn at the Clark County Fair the evening of Aug. 8, might have questioned their vision, seeing youth in prom dresses and ties tending their animals.
The evening featured the first-ever Clark County Dairy Kids Formal event, which featured 29 junior fair exhibitors participating, each taking home $130 and a feed scoop in the color of their choice, thanks to support from several local businesses.
Pam Selz-Pralle is a local dairywoman who helped coordinate the inaugural event.
“The dairy youth don’t have the opportunity to sell animals in the livestock sale or sell cheese baskets or anything like that,” Selz-Pralle said. “This was a fun activity that gave them the chance to take home a little jingle in their pocket.”
The idea sprouted after Selz-Pralle’s daughter, Jessica, judged the Winnebago County Fair’s junior dairy show in eastern Wisconsin last summer. After some initial discussion throughout the year, planning took place in earnest, with youth committee members Aspen Hagen, Madison Stieglitz, Jaron Begert, Ryan Magnuson and Ella Raatz joining Selz-Pralle in the planning.
The contest was open to junior members who exhibit at the Clark County Fair or attend the Wisconsin State Fair Junior shows with Clark County. Each entrant paid a $5 entry fee and prepared a heifer to exhibit the night before the junior dairy show. Youth entering the contest were encouraged to dress in formal attire, although the committee required them to wear close-toed shoes while leading their animals.
Entries were divided into two classes based on the age of the animal being exhibited. The exhibitor of the winning heifer in each class received an additional $100 prize, while the best-dressed male and female exhibitor in each group received a $50 prize.
The contest was judged by Joe Ortner and Marie Martens, who joined the exhibitors in donning formal attire. Selz-Pralle served as the emcee.
Hagen said they were hoping to get at least 20 kids to participate this year.
“When the fair started, we only had 10 entries submitted,” Hagen said. “We were able to get a bunch of kids to sign up by talking about it at the fair. We were excited to have so many decide to participate.”
The first class featured 14 exhibitors, showing calves that would show in the winter and spring calf classes. The top animal in that class was exhibited by Magnuson — a winter calf named Banowetz Tstruck Fame. The best-dressed male in that class was Ethan Penterman and the best-dressed female was Jane Ruzic.
Nine-year-old Penterman said the contest made his first year showing in 4-H something he will remember for a long time.
“I liked being able to dress up to show my calf; that was different and fun,” Penterman said. “Even when my calf wouldn’t lead, the guy told me to let go a little and just do short tugs.”
The second class, with 15 exhibitors, had heifers ranging from fall calves through fall yearlings. Hagen exhibited the top heifer in the group — a winter yearling named Hornland Jagger Kady that she leases from Ken Horn. Mitchell Tieman was selected as the best-dressed male and Andrya Wilke was chosen as the best-dressed female.
“It was a neat and different way to exhibit your project,” Hagen said. “People really enjoyed it — the kids in the barns, parents and fair spectators.”
Wilke enjoyed the pageantry of the evening.
“It’s not too often you get a chance to do that — get all dressed up and then show your animals,” Wilke said. “It was a good way to get some more use out of my prom dress, too — something you only get to wear once or twice.”
The added income the contest brought to her projects was appreciated, Wilke said.
“The money will be nice to use towards feed bills and other costs for my projects,” she said. “Showing animals isn’t cheap. I’m definitely looking forward to doing the contest again next year. And I would encourage all the exhibitors at the fair to take part. It was so exciting to be involved in.”
The atmosphere in the dairy barns the night of the formal and even the following day was exciting, Selz-Pralle said.
“People were still talking about the contest the next day,” she said. “There was so much excitement surrounding the event. It really added a new dimension to the fair and gave the dairy kids a special way to really shine.”
Hagen agreed, and said she is looking forward to helping to plan the second edition of the contest at next year’s county fair.
“I think it will be exciting to see how we can grow it, adding classes to get more kids to participate,” Hagen said. “We have a lot of good ideas from the feedback we got. It was definitely a hit with everyone.”
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