June Dairy Day hits the spot

By GINA KINSLOW
Glasgow Daily Times

June 23, 2007 04:53 pm

— Fourteen-year-old Skyler Degorft had to tug hard on the rope around her 3-month-old Jersey calf’s neck to get him into a pen.
The calf, who is called Jasper, was part of the petting zoo during the June Dairy Day event Saturday at the Cave City Convention Center.
Helping her coax the animal into place was her dad, Charles, a former dairy farmer.
The Degorft family no longer milks, but Skyler shows dairy cattle and says it’s something she enjoys.
“It’s a fun experience and you get to meet new people by doing it and it makes you a better person because you get to know more about yourself,” she said.
She shows her Jersey cows at county fairs, state fairs and at the North American International Live-stock Exposition, which takes place in November in Louisville.
Degorft turned out for June Dairy Days because it allows her to interact with people who don’t know much about dairy farming and how dairy farmers promote Barren County.
Event organizers were fearful the high humidity and heat would keep people away Saturday, but Gina Lyon, executive director of the Cave City Chamber of Commerce, said the crowd this year was bigger than last year’s turn out.
This year marked the fourth consecutive year for the event.
“We like to have June Dairy Day every year just to let people know what dairy farmers actually do. Having it here at the Convention Center gives us an opportunity to bring in tourists and people who have no idea where milk even comes from,” Lyon said.
Those who attended the event were given the opportunity to participate in an ice cream eating contest, dairy bingo and a milk balloon toss. They were also entertained by music provided by Gun Runner.
Judy Harvey, who volunteered to help with the event, sliced a variety of cheese from Bluegrass Foods for those who wanted a sample or two, and small children were given the chance to try their hands at milking a cow by visiting the Kentucky Kate exhibit.
Kentucky Kate simulates the actual milking of a cow. Only instead of being full of milk, Kentucky Kate was filled with water.
“What Kate is to do is help to educate the children where milk comes from,” said Mike Cox, a member of the June Dairy Day committee. “So many kids today think milk comes from the supermarket.”
By milking Kentucky Kate children learn that milk does indeed come from a cow first before it hits the supermarket shelves.
Also on hand for the event was Megan Bailey, Barren County Dairy Princess 2007, an honor she received by participating in a speech contest during the annual picnic for area dairy farmers.
Bailey’s speech was on how agriculture and the diary industry in particular has affected her life and helped form the person she is now.
“I think any kid who has been raised on a farm or has been involved in things like June Dairy Day has learned responsibility and has learned way of life that maybe other people don’t appreciate, and I think it builds not only your work enthusiasm but everything you try to do in your life,” she said.
Saturday’s event was just one of many activities held throughout the month to honor area dairy farmers.
“We’ve had three throughout the month starting off with the kick-off breakfast and later our dairy farmer cookout and ending it with our June Dairy Celebration, which is the dairy farmer’s salute to everyone who uses the dairy products,” said Gary Tilghman, Barren County’s agriculture extension agent. “Barren County is blessed to have such a large dairy organization and a group of folks that is a lot of fun to hold June Dairy month activities here. We’re greatly appreciative of the support the diary industry has and we look forward to continuing the progress with that and hope that our dairy farmers continue to have the success.”

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