Hundreds Of Young Handlers
Compete At Jr. Livestock Show
COOPERSTOWN – The Junior Livestock Show, featuring young farm-animal trainers from nine central New York counties, is underway through Tuesday evening at Iroquois Farm south of Cooperstown.
More than 250 youth handlers and 750 animals are filling the showgrounds on County Highway 33, testing the skills of handlers from ages 8 to 18 as they present dairy cows, beef, swine, dairy goats and sheep of various breeds that they own, care for, and have prepared for competition.
Sponsored by The Farmers’ Museum, admission to the show is free and the public is welcome. Since 1947, the museum has collaborated with the Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program to produce the show, which is the second largest youth competition in New York State.
A chicken barbecue and ice cream social launched activities Sunday evening.
Judging was underway all day today, and at 5 the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health leads a discussion on ATV safety. Prizes are awarded at 6 p.m. for the best posters displayed in the visitor tent in the Farm Safety for Kidz Poster Contest.
On Tuesday, judging begins at 9. At 2:30 p.m., the Grand Champions in the dairy, beef, dairy goat, sheep, and swine divisions will join the winners of the F. Ambrose Clark Livestock Trophy, The Farmers’ Museum Cup, and The Farmers’ Museum Dairy Goat Cup in a Parade of Champions.