Overall Grand Champion honours at EastGen Showcase in Spencerville, Ont., were awarded to Nadia Uhr (left) of Crysler, Ont., the contestant with highest composite scores recorded for quiz, showmanship, and calf conformation. She appears with EastGen General Manager Brian O’Connor. Photo supplied by EastGen.
SPENCERVILLE — The cattle ring in Spencerville returned to life July 5-6 as EastGen’s 4-H dairy showcase was back in action after a two-year pandemic pause. Nadia Uhr of North Stormont captured the overall individual championship while showing ‘Rapid Bay Tequila in the Dark,’ a jersey calf owned by Osgoode’s Velthuis Farms Ltd.
Velthuis Farms’ Steven Velthuis said that Uhr arranged to have the young Jersey on loan from Rapid Bay Jersey Farm, before he purchased the yearling from the Ormstown, Quebec-based breeder this past spring. Recognized as Reserve Champion Calf, Tequila in the Dark is the first Velthuis-owned Jersey animal to place at a 4-H show, and one of only five Jerseys stabled at the otherwise staunchly Holstein operation.
“That’s actually a really, really good calf. It’s going to be hard to beat at the national level,” predicted Velthuis, who began dabbling with Jerseys just last year. The breed is also a “good fit” for smaller 4-Hers, he pointed out. “It’s all about making 4-H an enjoyable experience.”
Another of his animals, Velthuis Doorman Ophelia, a Holstein, won as champion calf at the EastGen show while led by 4-Her Cameron Velthuis, his nephew.
Spencerville is one of four regional 4-H events EastGen traditionally organizes across its service area. Other showcases take place in Woodstock and Markham, along with a Nova Scotia site in Truro. The participants are 4-H youth between the ages of 14 and 21.
“‘The Future Looks Bright’ was the motto for this year’s events. If this year’s participants are any reflection on that, our industry is absolutely in very good hands,” Paul Stewart, EastGen Marketing Supervisor, said.
Justin Crowley of Hastings judged the Spencerville showcase.
Results:
Champion Showperson: Taylor VanderMeulen, Northumberland
Reserve Champion Showperson: Jasmine Uhr, Stormont
Hon. Mention Showperson: Nadia Uhr, Stormont
Champion Calf: Cameron Velthuis, Carleton, with Velthuis Doorman Ophelia
Reserve Champion Calf: Nadia Uhr, Stormont, with Rapid Bay Tequila In The Dark
Hon. Mention Calf: Taylor Mathers, Dundas, with Winright Sunnylodge SK Erica
Overall Champion: Nadia Uhr, Stormont
Reserve Overall Champion: Taylor VanderMeulen, Northumberland
Top Quiz: Courtney Orser, Frontenac
Best Exhibit: Carleton
Premier County: Northumberland
