FFA holds 20th annual dairy cow show

The 20th annual Houston County High FFA Dairy Heifer Show was held Saturday morning at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.

Houston County High School FFA adviser and agriculture teacher Ronnie Thomas, who is in charge of the show, said schools from across the state were invited to participate.

Public schools from both South and North Georgia came to the showing to participate.

“A bunch of us have prep shows or starter shows so that the kids can get out and get some experience before the state show,” Thomas said.

With about 70 to 80 head of cattle on the premises with 65 to 70 FFA students from across Georgia, the show gave experience to a lot of young FFA members, he said.

The state show, which will be held in February, will see almost 400 head of cattle.

Judging Saturday’s show was Jeffrey Turner from Tennessee. He typically judges cows, and his occupation when he isn’t judging is a nutritionist for dairy cattle.

“The goal is to hire a judge who doesn’t know anybody so there’s no preconceived notion on who will win,” Thomas said.

FFA students showed their heifers twice. The first time, Thomas said, the judge was judging students on their presentation.

“He’ll make sure the student has clipped the animal, kept it clean, it’s in good shape condition wise, it’s taken care of well daily and (students are) presenting the animal to the best of the animal’s ability,” Thomas said.

For the second showing of the animals, Thomas said Turner was looking for what is called confirmation, meaning the animal has adequate rib thickness and adequate feet and legs for both width and strength.

“He’ll also look at size for the age to make sure the animal utilizes feed efficiently to grow,” Thomas said. “Dairy cattle shouldn’t be short and fat so as not to waste feed, but for a beef animal, they should be a little shorter.”

Thomas said students give dairy cattle a high protein grain to make them grow taller. Beef cattle get a lower protein grain so that they grow more weight.

All the animals in the show were heifers, which means they have not had calves and so do not produce milk.

Thomas has been teaching for 20 years and has been involved with the Houston County High FFA Dairy Heifer Show each year since its inception.

Also at the Agricenter Saturday morning, ABAC Young Farmers from Tifton hosted a cattle show for steer and heifers. The Agricenter has shows a few times each month by different groups.

“It’s a great opportunity for kids from all over the state to come out here and use the facility to practice for the state show in February,” said Phillip Gentry, agricultural and youth livestock director at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. “We’re proud to have the kids out here. It’s the reason the Ag Center is here.”

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