By GINA KINSLOW
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.
