Eight weeks ago, a group of local 4-H youth stood in a pasture looking at a group of dairy calves that had never worn a halter, let alone walked gracefully in a show ring. Fast forward to this past weekend at the Northeast Junior Dairy Show, and those exact same calves were gracefully traveling through the arena, guided by confident, smiling 4-H members.

The journey from untouched calves to show-ready champions was part of an intensive 8-week dairy project that tested the grit, patience, and dedication of the young handlers.

Doing the Heavy Lifting

What made this project unique was the strict rule of independence: the youth did 100% of the work. For two months, these dedicated members spent every Monday and Wednesday evening at practices.

Their responsibilities included:

• Halter breaking: Spending the first two weeks earning the calves' trust and teaching them to lead.
• Daily Care & Nutrition: Managing feeding schedules, cleaning the water trough, and monitoring health.
• Fitting & Grooming: Washing, clipping, and practicing the precise showmanship techniques required to catch a judge's eye.

Show Day Success

All that sweat and determination paid off when it mattered most. In the show ring the youth competed in showmanship. Showmanship is how well the youth shows the animal.

The judge commended the group not just for the quality of the animals, but for the exceptional control and sportsmanship the youth displayed—a direct reflection of their hard work behind the scenes.

Notable Results from the Show:

• Paisley Tillman took home 5th Place in the Junior Division with Belle.
• Emilie Bryner earned 5th Place in the Intermediate Division with Betsey.
• Callaway Hoyle took home 3rd Place in the Intermediate Division with Bonnie. Callaway was also rewarded with the Herdsman award for the Dairy Project!
• Holly Jackson took home 1st place in the Intermediate Division with Buttercup. Holly was also overall Reserve Champion with Buttercup.
• Abygail Bryner had a great run in the Intermediate Division with Baddie
• Emma Kate Van Domelen had a great run in the super tough Senior Division with Blossom.

More Than Just Ribbons

While the ribbons and trophies were a wonderful bonus, the real prize of the 8-week project was the life skills the youth took home.

4-H is all about learning by doing. These kids learned resilience when a calf wouldn't cooperate, time management, and the reward of hard work. They built confidence that will stay with them long after this show season ends. These amazing kids didn't back down; to see the bond they formed with their animals in just the few short weeks is nothing short of incredible.

The Craven/Pamlico dairy project thanks the parents, Arthur Farms, for being the host farm, and Kooba Dairy for allowing us to borrow their calves. The project would also like to thank our many sponsors for all their amazing support!