STRATFORD —The night before the July 7 EastGen 4-H Stratford Showcase, Madison Dyment figured her calf was in for a very bad day.
“When I was leading her in preparation, she was doing absolutely terrible,” said 19-year-old Dyment, whose parents run Howard-view Holsteins at Burgessville in Oxford County. “The worst that she’s ever led, and the worst that any heifer of mine has ever led in a show ring. She started jumping around whenever people would come near her. I took her back to the barn and I’m like ‘oh no, this is not going to be good tomorrow.’ ”
The next morning, Dyment led Howard-view Lamadona Lexington before the competition and her calf began to perform. Dyment regained a little confidence and by the end of the day was crowned top showperson and tallying up points in all categories was named overall champion. It was the first time Dyment was named overall champion. The last two years she finished as reserve overall champion.
Madison, who has been entering shows with 4-H and pre-4-H since she was five years old, said the overall win is one of her most memorable to date, ranking up there with being named intermediate showperson at the World Dairy Expo in 2013.
Here is a list of winners from the EastGen Showcase:
Champion showperson: Madison Dyment, Brant County
Reserve champion Showperson: Laura DeKlein, Middlesex County
Champion calf: Glenholme Excitation Tiffany, led by Tanner Jones, Oxford County
Reserve champion calf: Kingsway Solomon Arkus, led by Lars Zeldenrijk, Oxford County
Overall champion: Madison Dyment
Reserve overall champion: Wesley Haggins, Essex County
Top quiz: Derrick Knill, Perth County
Best exhibit: Waterloo County
Premier county: Brant County
