EDMONTON — A Metcalfe County man recently had the honor of judging one of the top dairy shows in country.
Fowler Branstetter, owner and operator of Style Crest Dairy Farm in Edmonton, judged the National Guernsey Show at the 2009 World Dairy Show in Madison, Wis. Sept. 29-Oct. 3.
It was his second time to serve as a judge at the show. He previously judged the show in 1996.
“It has grown quite a bit,” Branstetter said.
The show consists of 3,500 head of cattle and 750 exhibitors.
“It’s a big show,” he said, adding it was an honor to be selected as a judge and to see some of the more high dollar cows in the world. He was selected for the honor by the American Guernsey Association.
“To be selected as a judge for one of those seven shows is a capstone for dairy judges and indicative of the dairy industry’s utmost confidence in the judges’ ability to evaluate dairy cattle,” said Beulon Moss, who lives near Hiseville but is also a retired dairy science and Extension specialist for Auburn University.
Brandon Bell, University of Kentucky Extension agent for agriculture, commended Branstetter for being asked to judge the competition.
“Fowler has been involved in the dairy industry for basically all of his life. He is known nationwide for his knowledge of the dairy industry and I think it’s an honor for Metcalfe County to have somebody involved in such an event,” Bell said.
Branstetter has judged other world shows, such as those in Australia and Canada, but said nothing can compare to the 2009 World Dairy Show.
He has also had the honor of showing cattle at the World Dairy Show. He has shown cattle there about 10 times and has received several awards.
“We had the champion heifer there in 2006,” he said. “That was probably the last time I showed there.”
The show was attended by 64,796 people, which is down by 3,521 from 2008. Of those who attended the show there were 2,551 attending the show from 91 countries, including Canada, Germany, Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Seven breeds of cattle where shown during the event, including: Ayrhsire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn and Red and White.
Branstetter raises both Geurnsey and Holstein cattle.
Plans are already being made for the 2010 World Dairy Show, which is set for Sept. 28 through Oct. 2.
Branstetter said he hopes to enter the competition next year.
“If I have something good enough I certainly hope to be back there showing,” he said.
More information about this year’s 2009 World Dairy Show can be found at www.world-dairy-expo.com.
Agriculture
Branstetter judges national dairy show
- Agriculture
-
-
Chamber visits cattle farm
A local beef cattle farmer had the chance to show off his farm operation recently when a group from the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce chose his farm as their quarterly agribusiness visit.
-
Community shares gardens
The auditorium of the Barren County Cooperative Extension Service was crowded with flowers, vegetables, house plants and seeds Saturday afternoon as garden enthusiasts and other member of the community gathered for the first Plant and Seed Swap through the extension office.
-
Auction competition draws crowd
Farmers Livestock Market of Glasgow hosted an overflow crowd Monday as people from across the country flocked to the stockyard for the first quarterfinal round of the 2012 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship.
-
Farm Bureau works for farmers
The Barren County Farm Bureau Federation met Saturday night at the Trojan Academy for its annual meeting, to review the past year and form a consensus on agriculture policy resolutions the group will push to the state level.
-
Japanese student embraces local culture
A Barren County family is spending a month sharing their American culture with a Japanese foreign exchange student through a 4-H-based program.
- Ag extension offers homegrown potluck
-
Ag committee discusses hot topics
The Kentucky Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture met Wednesday at Farmers Livestock Market in Glasgow to discuss two difficult issues that have been especially close to the hearts of local farmers — the Eastern Livestock bankruptcy case and dead animal disposal.
-
Farmers feel punished by H-2A regulations
Local tobacco farmers feel like they’re being penalized for using legal foreign workers to help them during the tobacco season.
-
Allen receives ag award
A Barren County man has been recognized by the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy for his work as an outstanding agriculture leader.
-
Livestock farmers have stake in bill
Efforts to compensate for losses from the bounced checks and bankruptcy litigation of Eastern Livestock Inc. are continuing. This time, hopefully, with the help of new legislation in the Kentucky congress.
- More Agriculture Headlines
-
Defense Rests in John Edwards Trial
GM Says It Will Stop Paying for Ads on Facebook
911 Call: Confusion at Home Where Mom Shot Kids
Jury Convicts Steve Powell of Voyeurism Charges
Skechers to Pay $40 Million for Bogus Claims
Coffee May Be Key to Living Longer
Police to Groom of Slain Bride: Turn Yourself In
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
FTC: Skechers Deceived Consumers With Shoe Ads
FBI Confirms Leak Probe on Al-Qaida Plot
Romney Calls Obama a 'Disappointment'
Honda Unveils New Robotics-powered Scooter
NJ Gov., Mayor Channel Seinfeld in Video Parody
Blood Drive for Woman With Flesh-Eating Disease
AG Race Tops Oregon Primary Interest
Obama Welcomes Beckham, Galaxy to White House
Raw Video: Mladic's Genocide Trial Under Way
Court Records Detail Zimmerman Injuries
Local Community Prepares for G8 Summit
New Guidelines for US Nuclear Plants
