Young People Showing Cattle at Dairy Shows, 1944

By F.H. Jeter, Extension Editor, N.C. State College, Raleigh, as published in the Wilmington Star on Oct. 9, 1944

That 400 eager young faces turned in intelligent attention and seemingly enjoyed every part of the program is enough to inspire any speaker appearing before an audience of rural boys and girls. Such an audience was provided by Dr. F.L. Jackson of Davidson College the other evening in the Barium Springs Orphanage dining hall as he talked to the young people who had come to exhibit their cattle at the Fourth Annual Upper Piedmont Dairy show sponsored by the Belk stores of that area. Many of the young folks had brought their parents along with them and also, scattered throughout the audience were the farm agents, home agents, and vocational teachers who are all helping to make this dairy cattle venture a success.

Maury Gaston, farm agent of Iredell County, headed the steering committee having the whole thing in charge and he had arranged well. The children came in to the Iredell County fair grounds with their calves on the evening before the show and spent busy minutes getting the animals groomed and ready for the judging the next morning. The next step was to clean up a bit and go to the orphanage dining hall where the Carnation Company had provided a dinner for all comers.

Superintendent Joe Johnston, orphanage superintendent, or “father” as he is more appropriately known, had planned an excellent meal of fried country ham, grits, ham gravy, sweet potatoes, sliced tomatoes, ice cream, cake, milk, coffee, and other well-cooked dishes. All the serving was done by young ladies at the orphanage and during the meal the Glee Club sang songs, new and old, that delighted the young people and their parents. Everyone seemed to be in good humor and it was a delightful occasion.

In addition to Mr. Jackson, other speakers were John A. Arey, dairy extension specialist; Maury Gaston, farm agent; L.R. Harrill, 4-H Club leader; and R.J. Peeler, FFA leader.

The dinner over, the club boys returned to the fair grounds where many of them spent the night snuggled down in the hay, while others less hardy, returned home to come again the next morning.

The judging started early the next day with Fred M. Haig of State College and Dr. Al Shaw of Davidson County placing the cattle. It was an inspiring sight to see the young people parade their 215 calves in proud ownership before the judges and spectators.

Seven classes of females and three classes of bulls were judged. A pure bred dairy heifer was given as an attendance prize by J.A. Knox of Merchants and Farmers Bank of Statesville, and Bill Winters of a local farm implement company, paid all the expenses incident to holding the show. It was made it possible, of course, through the premium payments of $1,000 donated by the Belk stores through W.H. Belk of Charlotte. Mr. Belk offered $5,000 four years ago to stage an annual show for five years with the idea that in that time the young people would have gained knowledge and experience in handling dairy cattle sufficient to make Piedmont Carolina a milk producing section. John A. Arey, dairy extension specialist, said the show had been vastly beneficial and that he hoped the series of shows could be continued after the Belk fund had been exhausted.

This event was duplicated the following two days when Dean I.O. Schaub of State College spoke at the banquet held in Lexington, Davidson County, for the show made possible through a donation of $7,500 by George Coble, local dairy products manufacturer. The dinner as well as the premium money of $1,500 was donated by Mr. Coble, and the Lexington Country Club dining room was taxed to seat the boys and girls from northwest North Carolina who came as guests. The show was planned by W.H. Wooten, Davidson farm agent, and was the second in this series.

It also marked the tenth anniversary of George Coble’s milk processing business. In that brief time, he has built one of the most remarkable milk markets ever seen in the south, sending out his trucks along country roads and collecting fresh, clean milk from thousands of isolated farms whose owners never dreamed of being able to sell their surplus milk to advantage. During the Lexington dinner, J.M. Scott, an agricultural official from Florida, impressed with what he had seen in a trip through the territory, gave George a permit to sell surplus products in that state so that North Carolina farmers are assured now of a continuing market for their milk even though local army camps are not so heavily populated.

The Coble show was hampered by a tremendous downpour of rain but even this failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the calf owners. They brought in so many animals that Mr. Coble had to increase his premium payment rather than to have any of them get less than the catalogue had listed. More than 325 calves were entered and probably more would have been shown had there been space for them. Over a thousand spectators braved the rain to watch the judging.

The third and final dairy cattle show was held in Raleigh on October 3 and 4 for eastern North Carolina. Like the one at Statesville, this one was also financed by the Belk Stores and in time, will be divided into two separate shows. More than 700 animals were entered at the three shows and no one can calculate the tremendous good which the dairy industry of the state has received as a result. The young exhibitors have watched the judges as they placed the calves; they have heard about how to feed and manage their animals for greatest production; they have seen calves better than their own; they have learned what makes a blue ribbon calf; and they have met competition as good sports determined to show again another year and put into practice those things learned this season. The whole effort was well worth while.