TEMPLE HILL — Judge Brian Hornback from Elizabethtown was keeping a watchful eye as both youth and adults led their show cattle around the ring in the pavilion at the Temple Hill Fairgrounds on Wednesday night.

Participants of all ages were showing cows at the annual 4-H and Future Farmers of America Dairy Cattle Show at the Barren County Fair. And, for many of the contestants, it was a family effort representing more than one generation.

Emi Jones, 10, had her first foray into the show ring and garnered a third-place finish with her Brown Swiss “Lucille” even though the cow was a little rambunctious in the enclosure and Emi had to push and pull her a bit to maneuver the bovine into position.

“This is my first year. It’s more like a tradition with my family,” she said.

Her cousin, Ally Jones, 11, was also showing cows. Jeff Jones, Emi’s father, has been exhibiting cattle for 35 years and she has four uncles, including Ally’s dad, Doug Jones, who show as well.

The family only exhibits Brown Swiss, but they enjoy going to different places together to show, according to her mother, Tammy Jones.

“It’s something the family can do together. We travel all over,” Tammy said.

Kelsey Trowbridge, 18, has been involved with 4-H cattle shows since she was 9, according to her mom, Stacy Trowbridge.

“We do a few shows – state fairs and county fairs,” Stacy said.

Kelsey shows Holsteins and Brown Swiss and has won several awards through the years and lots of blue ribbons, her mom said. The competitions even helped the teenager be able to afford a vehicle to drive.

“Kelsey won enough money it bought half her car. It’s a Mazda 3. It’s not new, but it was a car,” Stacy said.

An older daughter, Lindsey Trowbridge, 20, also used to participate in the programs and Stacy’s husband and the girls’ father, Terry Trowbridge, has been showing cattle since he was 14 or 15 years old.

Stacy takes more of a support role at the events, not showing in the ring herself.

“I’m the chief pooper scooper. I don’t really do a lot,” she said.

As her mom was watching and talking, Kelsey took a second-place finish with her heifer “Zadie.” She was exhibiting a total of five cattle, all Brown Swiss and Holsteins.

For Wesley Williams, 10, and his dad, Clint Williams, from Scottsville, it was their second show of the day. Wesley had competed earlier in the day at an event in Bowling Green where he won the junior championship for Holsteins, Clint said.

This is the second year Wesley has shown cattle. He had one heifer last year and five this year consisting of Holsteins and Brown Swiss. He took two first-place finishes Wednesday night, but it was a long day for father and son.

“We’re tired. The cows are tired,” Clint said.

The Williamses own and operate a dairy near Bailey’s Point – Caveland Dairy – that was started by Clint’s grandfather and Wesley’s great-grandfather, Donald Hicks.

“He had the dairy before the lake was there, since the 1940s. He moved up from Tennessee,” Clint said.

The Williamses are members of both the Allen and Barren County dairy clubs.

The family started the tradition of showing cattle with Clint’s mother, Debra Barany, who was 10 years old when she began. And her son and grandson are happy to continue that tradition.

“We really enjoy coming over here,” Clint said.

Austin Etheridge, 8, of Monroe County, also enjoys participating in the shows. He has spent the last three years exhibiting Ayrshires.

“It’s fun,” he said.

Austin attends Joe Harrison Carter Elementary and will be in the third grade this year.

His mom, Tina Etheridge, said Roy and Caroline Myatt, who have been active in the events for many years, got him started initially.

Different generations of families could be found outside the ring as well as inside Wednesday night.

Sitting in the bleachers watching the show was Harley Wiley, 82. In his lap, he held his 1-year-old great-grandson, Harley Gabriel Hodges. Amber and Chuck Hodges are the little boy’s parents. Harley’s wife, Delzia, who he called his bride for 60 years, wasn’t with him for the show, so the two, young and old, watched the cows together.

“He’s named after me, but they call him Gabe,” Harley said.

Gabe, who turned 1 on July 10, was seeing his first cattle show while Harley admitted he has been to several through the years at the Barren County Fair, but not all of them. He usually has a higher obligation.

“Revival at church (Union No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church) is usually the same week. For some reason this year, it’s not,” he said.

Harley doesn’t show cattle, but he said he knows a lot of people who do including his son, Steven Wiley, who exhibits in the dairy show, and Roy Myatt, the same man who got Austin Etheridge involved in showing cattle.

“I sold (Myatt) his first farm when he started,” Harley said.

Other events Wednesday night included the baby show, Tiny Mr. and Miss Barren County Fair and Little Mr. and Miss Barren County Fair.

Tonight’s events include the Miss Pre-Teen, Miss Teen and Miss Barren County Fair contests beginning at 6 p.m. A cornhole tournament will start at 7 p.m.