By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Showing dairy cattle has changed Taryn Muilenburg’s life.

Muilenburg didn’t know what she was getting into when she joined 4-H five years ago. Now 19, the Stanton teenager became a member because one of her friends was involved in a 4-H club. Although neither of them lived on a dairy farm, they both showed dairy cattle.

“I had no idea what showing cows meant. I just thought it would be fun to be in 4-H,” Muilenburg said. “When I started in 4-H, I never would have thought that anyone cared about a cow so much. I couldn’t believe all the time spent getting them ready to show.”
Five years later, Muilenburg recalled the story while helping care for a string of Holsteins and Jerseys during the 12th annual Michigan Dairy Expo at the Michigan State University Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in East Lansing. One thing is certain – she knew what she was getting into when she was hired to help Rod-er-Dic Holsteins of Byron Center care for their animals during the show, July 21-25.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun to be here,” she said, while brushing a mostly white Holstein cow named Darma. Muilenburg had shown Darma’s mother, Dizzy, while she was a 4-H member in Montcalm County.

“We start out every morning washing them,” she said, gesturing to the string of 13 animals.

After cleaning stalls, putting in fresh straw and feeding the animals, Muilenburg helps keep everything in order. “That means a lot of cleaning,” she said, referring to the occasional pile of manure that needs to be picked up and put in one of the wheelbarrows located at either end of the row. Automatic waterers connected by hoses cut down on the workload.

“I can tell you I don’t like getting up this early, but I like taking care of the cows,” Muilenburg said of the 5 a.m. wake-up during the show. “What I really like is helping get the cows ready to show and then watching them and hoping they do well.”

She enjoys working with cattle so much that she has changed her career path and is studying to become a large animal veterinarian, specializing in dairy animals.

“I’ve always been obsessed with dogs and wanted to be a veterinarian for dogs, but I realized there are a lot of small animal vets,” Muilenburg said. “Then I decided that I can really relate to cows and there’s a need for large animal vets.”

She said she has grown a lot in recent years by working with large animals. “I am less afraid of them. They have toughened me up,” she said. “I’ve also learned a lot of patience.”

Muilenburg is entering her second year at Montcalm Community College in Sidney, where she plans to complete her basic course requirements. She plans to transfer to Michigan State University in 2009 to follow her dream of becoming a veterinarian.