Photo by Deb Gau William Buyck led his dairy calf around the arena during the Cloverbud portion of the 4-H Dairy Show at the Lyon County Fair.

MARSHALL — He had eight years of experience competing at 4-H dairy shows, but Zack Fier said this year would be a memorable one. One of the dairy cattle Fier was showing at the Lyon County Fair on Friday was his 7-year-old Holstein cow, Ripple.

“She was one of the first cows I ever worked with, and I got to show her in my last year,” Fier said. While Ripple was an older cow, Fier said she was still looking good and was well-trained for being in the show ring.

The 4-H dairy show brought together Lyon County youth with a range of experience showing cattle, from younger kids just gaining experience in the show ring, to teens who have been working with their cows for years.

The afternoon started out with the Cloverbud dairy show, which is geared toward younger 4-H members.

“This is the future of your 4-H program,” said 4-H judge Suzanne Souza. Souza explained to the audience that the focus of the Cloverbud show was on gaining experience. Participants worked together with adults who kept control of the dairy cows.

Souza asked the kids what they liked about their animals.

“She’s sweet and kind,” said William Buyck.

“I like walking her,” said Titan Fier.

Older 4-H members handled their own cattle in the show ring. Adeline Louwagie said getting ready for a show can be hectic.

“The preparation for it is a little stressful for everyone,” Louwagie said. But the stress goes away in the ring, when you’re focused on the judge, she said. “You’re living in the moment.”

There’s a lot of work that goes into caring for dairy cattle and training them for shows, participants said. One big part is getting a calf or heifer used to being led.

“My favorite part is probably just walking them around,” said Cole Remiger.

Some 4-H members, including Remiger and Fier, said they got into showing dairy cattle through family or experience growing up on a farm. But there are also lots of good experiences that go with it.

Fier said he’s enjoyed getting to meet new people through dairy shows.

“Some of my best friends I’ve met through 4-H,” he said.

Louwagie said she’s also gotten to know the personalities of the dairy cattle she’s worked with, like her cow Caramel, a Jersey/Swiss brown cross. After years of working with a cow, “I think you start to get attachment issues,” Louwagie joked.

Fier said that, although this is his last year competing in 4-H, it won’t be the end of his involvement with dairy shows. In the future, he said, “Hopefully I’ll come back and help other 4-H’ers, and keep showing at open shows.”