HARRISBURG, Pa. — Sitting in the stands of the Equine Arena on Sunday at the PA Farm Show, Kelly Weisner said showing livestock is a form of art.
“For the animal, it’s about foot placement and head placement,” said Weisner, Lehigh County’s 4-H youth development educator through Penn State Extension. She pointed out examples as young exhibitors each guided a massive cow into the ring. “The head should make a nice line, while the legs are in the best position to show off the meat.
“It’s really an art, it truly is … The judges have an idea of what the ideal animal is. Then, they decide which animal meets their ideal, ranking from there.”
The 109th PA Farm Show is well underway, with its first weekend of competitions complete.
More than a half-dozen Lehigh County 4-H’ers competed in various categories, from swine and sheep to breeding and market beef. Often a tradition spanning several generations for farming families, livestock competitions are the ultimate show of all the hard work and long hours young exhibitors have invested in their animals.
“This is the best of every single county in PA. This is the best of the best.”<br/>Sam Lazarus, 16, of Schnecksville
The PA Farm Show draws fierce competition from across the commonwealth, competitors and their supporters said.
“This is the best of every single county in PA,” said Sam Lazarus, 16, of Schnecksville. “This is the best of the best.”
'Caring, ethical, responsible'
The PA Farm Show’s Food Court opened Friday, kicking off the weeklong event at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, 2300 N. Cameron St. All other exhibits opened 8 a.m. Saturday.
Billed as the largest indoor agricultural event in the world, this year’s theme is “Powering Pennsylvania,” a nod to agriculture’s important place in the commonwealth’s economy.
There are 24 acres of animals, as well as displays and educational booths. Throughout the week, there are many different competitions, spanning livestock categories, potatoes, family living and commodities.
Several Lehigh County 4-H'ers competed in the junior livestock shows Saturday and Sunday.
“Showmanship is about the exhibitor, while breed is about the animal,” Weisner said. “Most of these families that are here, it’s a third, fourth generation thing.
“It’s a family tradition.”
In addition to Sam Lazarus, who took third place in swine with his pig, Gloria, and fifth place in sheep, with his lamb, Kenny, several others placed.
Sam said he’s spent “countless hours” preparing.
“Every day they get washed, worked and exercised,” he said. “This isn’t just something I do. It’s a part of me.”
Here are the results:
- Emily Laudenslager, of Allentown: fifth in swine with her pig, Pablo
- Faith Smith, of New Tripoli: second and reserve champion with her black angus in breeding and third for her market heifer
- Kamryn Fink, of Germansville: seventh in swine with her pig, Thunder, and sixth in sheep with her lamb, Trainwreck
- Katniss Lazarus, Germansville: second in swine with her pig, Mr. Pink, and fifth in sheep with her lamb, Megatron
- Ethan Brozman, of Nazareth: first for cow calf
- Olivia Brozman, of Nazareth: champion angus market steer
On Monday, Faith won first place and division champion, and will show for overall champion.
The highest-placing animals are sold at the Junior Market Sale of Champions, while others are sold at the Junior Market Auction.
“They understand the concept of the life cycle,” Weisner said. “The kids care for these animals. They create a high-quality product in a very caring, ethical, responsible way.”
Smiling while describing her spot pig, Pablo, as “pretty lazy,” 15-year-old Emily Laudenslager said she got him in September. She’s raised him ever since, and he’s grown to 274 pounds.
“It can sometimes be stressful, but it’s pretty fun,” she said.
For 9-year-old Katniss Lazarus, the impending sale of Mr. Pink brought up some emotions.
“My favorite part is spending time with them,” she said, adding that grooming is often her favorite task. “I'll probably cry when [my pig] is gone.”
There are more than a dozen Lehigh County 4-H’ers competing in Tuesday’s potato grading competition.
For commodities, which includes divisions like honey products, nut foods, photography, fruit foods, maple syrup, mashed potato candy and more, about 50 out of more than 1,400 entries come from the Lehigh Valley.
Under the family living category, more than 60 out of about 2,500 entries come from the Valley. Those divisions include basketry, hand-knitted, quilt blocks, and cakes and cookies, among others.
