By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor COLUMBUS, Ohio — While 4-Hers across the country begin to prepare projects for fair season, local fair officials make selections for the judges who will ultimately decide on who takes home blue this summer.
To help facilitate that process for the dairy shows, the Ohio Purebred Dairy Cattle Assoc. recently released a list of the top 10 judges from the state of Ohio following the annual PDCA Judging Contest held during the Spring Dairy Expo in Columbus, Ohio on March 25.
“In the dairy industry these days, there are fewer people who are judging shows and there are fewer people showing dairy at many county fairs,” said John Ayars, of Mechanisburg, Ohio, organizer and sponsor of the contest and past-president of the Ohio PDCA.
“With this contest, we’re trying to help fairboard officials find the quality judges they are looking for, while helping some younger judges get exposure as well. Most county fair people rely on networking to find judges and unfortunately there are people judging who shouldn’t be and people who should that aren’t being called.”
Ayars said the PDCA Judging Contest has taken place at the Spring Dairy Expo for the last 20 years and prior to that it was a two-day social event, where competitors traveled across the state to judge cattle at various farms.
The event isn’t the social gathering it once was, but Ayars said, the contest is as competitive as it ever was.
“Oh it’s very competitive, people entering this contest want to win it,” he said, adding the top-scoring judge takes home $50. “Premiums are provided for the top ten, with the 10th place individual getting $20.”
Cost to enter the annual contest is $5, with 30 to 40 judges of all experience levels entering on average every year, Ayars concluded. “What we try to do with this contest is train new people and provide the opportunity for seasoned judges to retool and rethink judging, because cattle are judged much different than 20-30 years ago,” he explained.
Contestants are asked to place six classes of dairy heifers and cows, usually made up of four breeds such as Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss and Aryshire. Every year, Ayars selects an official for the contest to place all classes and competitors are scored accordingly.
Once the contestants place the classes, Ayars opens up the class for suggested placings and reasons, which often stirs disagreement and eggs on competitiveness amongst the group.
“It’s great practice for everyone who competes and helps kick off show season for the year,” he added.
The top 15 placing individuals for the 2010 contest are:
1. Steve Moff, Columbiana, Ohio – 330-482-9018
2. Blaine Crosser, Marysville, Ohio – 740-666-5491
3. Sherri Smith, Glenford, Ohio – 330-465-2316
4. Kelly Epperly, Anna, Ohio – 937-658-3896
5. Jim Scheffield, Wellington, Ohio – 440-935-6378
6. Don Bickel, New Vienna, Ohio – 937-218-2697
7. Eric Topp, Wapakoneta, Ohio – 419-753-3177
8. Donna Griewe, Sidney, Ohio – 937-492-7209
9. Annie Specht, Columbus, Ohio – no phone number available
10. Bill Indoe, Lodi, Ohio – 330-948-2259
11. John Lemmerman, Galloway, Ohio – 614-878-7939
12. Ken James, Wooster, Ohio – 330-264-6445
13. Mark Bardell, Tippecanoe, Ohio – 740-229-0149
14. Lowell Stevens, Urbana, Ohio – 937-653-7085
15. Daryl Duncan, Warsaw, Ohio – 740-824-4592
Ayars encouraged not only Ohio fair officials to take advantage of this provided list, but also officials from neighboring states, as many of the above judges may be willing to travel. |
