GREENWICH, N.Y. — The Northeast All Breeds Spring Show was recently held on the Big E fairgrounds. Dairy owners from all over the northeast brought cattle of every dairy breed to compete for purple ribbons and blue banners. The Udder Chaos show team showed up too.

Spending a week showing different breeds, making new friends, and discovering new show-day tips led to good laughs, big smiles, and a few confusing moments. Read on for a recap of the Northeast All Breeds Spring Show and some show-day tips you might not have thought of yourself.

Cow Show Day Tips

Show day can be stressful. Everyone knows the basics of filling your cows and keeping them clean. However, you may not have thought of these tips individuals from around the Spring Show contributed to our recap.

1. “Tie Your Shoes Before You Go in The Ring”

Thank you, Ashley Abbot, for this great tip that comes from the time Larry Nolan let go of the show halter in the middle of the ring to bend down and tie his shoes at the Big E show last year. We always check his shoes before he goes in the ring now. Check out this picture captured by Cowsmo of this “never live down” moment.

2. “Try Your White Pants on Before Show Day”

This tip comes from Bridey Nolan bringing two pairs of whites that she had not tried on before show day and panicking all week that they would not fit. Luckily, they fit, but could you imagine if they did not? Oof.

3. “Remember Your White Underwear”

Thank you, Teresa DePaul, for this oh-so-important tip if you do not want to be embarrassed in your show ring pictures. It is always good to try on your white pants beforehand (tip 2!) to see if white underwear is necessary. Better safe than sorry!

4. “Make Sure You Have Enough Buckets”

This tip comes from Margaret Brownell, who got to experience what happens when you send Larry Nolan out to set up on his own. A miscommunication of “all the cows have water bowls,” meaning only milk cows and not heifers, led to not enough water buckets. With about sixteen heifers to water, you can see why this tip is quite important.

5. “Prevent the Hangry”

Here we have another tip from Margaret Brownell about packing good snacks for your show trip. There is nothing worse than dealing with a hangry person on show day!

6. “Don’t Forget to Buy Ice”

Ice is a wonderful thing to have in your cooler for a multitude of reasons. Whether it is for the celebratory drink after the show or finding a seam, ice is a must. Make sure you always have enough. Thanks, Ryan Fiddes for this great tip!

7. “Check for Pets on Your Trailer”

There is nothing worse than showing up on show day and realizing you brought the family cat all the way to the Big E fairgrounds with you. Luckily, the cat did not turn out to be ours, but there was a moment of worry where we believed he was. Don’t worry, we are sure Samson, the trailer cat, is doing well!

Northeast All Breeds Spring Show Recap

The 2023 Northeast All Breeds Spring Show was quite an experience. A lot happened as the Udder Chaos show team took on the long week. Let us take a quick dive into some of the highlights.

Don’t Lose Your Hands!

The first couple of mornings were cold ones. Around 40 degrees Fahrenheit outside at 4:45 AM washing cows led to numb hands and lots of “How many cows are left?” The worst part is always how high up the spigots are. Try being a short human screwing on your hose end as water drips down your sleeves. It is a tough one.

We had a few run-ins with the water spigots drenching a few of the people in our string. Ally Hoag may have taken the worst of it though with a nice cold shower at 6 am on the side wash rack. Oh, how we wish we could install quick connects to make hose hookups easier!

Pro tip – Bring a bucket out to stand on to hook up the hose if you are short like most of us!

Master The “Not It!” Game

Once the show is over for the day, catching cow pies does not seem as important. As a result, the infamous “Not It” game began. As everyone curls up in their blankets because, let’s be honest, it was freezing in that barn, it becomes a game of who has to go scoop the poop.

If you had walked by our pack after the show was complete, you would have found everyone, adults, and kids alike, screaming, “Not it!” as they put their fingers on their noses. The last person to do it had to scoop the poop. With almost thirty heads in our string, this game got played a lot at the Spring Show. Thank you, Northeast All Breeds Spring Show, for improving our reflexes because no one wanted to climb out from under their blankets.

Cow Show Furry Friends

I do not know about you, but we loved seeing all the dogs hanging around the show. The corgis and the mini-Aussies playing in the pack stole our hearts. There is no better pick me up after a long day of showing than watching puppies play.

However, on this trip, we made a different kind of furry friend. When getting hay off our trailer, we realized we had a cat living there. At first, we panicked that we had brought a cat from home (I would not put it past us), but after a quick call home, we established our Opal was home asleep on the bed. The big gray cat that we named Samson had found his way onto our trailer on the fairgrounds and made a lovely home out of it for a while.

Are You Joking?

Feeding about fifteen people each day was a task. Luckily, we had a few pre-made meals to pop in our giant crock-pot-like machine Ma sent out with us. However, when the two-year-old says she wants potatoes, you get her potatoes. And what better place to get potatoes than KFC in the form of a famous bowl?

Even though we had all already had dinner, the sound of a famous bowl was too enticing. As a result, we ordered eleven famous bowls at the KFC drive-through. The cashier got quite a laugh out of it.

Winners Of The 2023 Spring Show

We enjoyed watching the 2023 Northeast All Breeds Spring Show at the Big E. A lot of quality animals made their way around the ring. Some walked better than others, but all of them came together to put on a great show. Here is a quick recap of the winners at this year’s show.

Red & White Show

Open Grand Champion

• Champion: Spungold-HC Jordy Rose-Red, Dale & Deanna Bendig, Gettysburg, PA
• Reserve Champion: Schilldale Ammo Brave-Red, David Shillawski, Ancramdale, NY
• Honorable Mention: On-The-Line Awesome Sauce-Red, Ryan Nadeau, Craftsbury Commons, VT

Youth Grand Champion

• Champion: Milk&Honey Analyst Mica-Red, Preston Peabody, Buskirk, NY
• Reserve Champion: Carpsview Altitude Echo-Red, Declan Newcomb, Granby, CT

Open Junior Champion

• Champion: Boardwalk WR Sparkle-Red-ET, Maple Down Farms, Pete Vail, Middleburgh, NY
• Reserve Champion: Lookout Relentlessly Awesome-Red, Jaydn Kimball, Windham, ME
• Honorable Mention: Bittersweet Mystery-Red, Katelyn Poitras, Brimfield, MA

Youth Junior Champion

• Champion: Lookout Relentlessly Awesome-Red, Jaydn Kimball, Windham, ME
• Reserve Champion: Bittersweet Mystery-Red, Katelyn Poitras, Brimfield, MA
• Honorable Mention: Whittier-Farms Cassidi-Red, Katelyn Poitras, Brimfield, MA

Guernsey Show

Open Grand Champion

• Champion: Knapps Digligle Quality Queenie, Lauren Nelson, Richard Giddings, Brandon, VT
• Reserve Champion: Retso AP Kiya-ETV, Sylvia Johnson, Keenan Thygesen, Haley Beukema, Tunbridge, VT
• Honorable Mention: Millborne Alex Bianca, Morey Miller, Granby, CT

Youth Grand Champion

• Champion: Retso AP Kiya-ETV, Sylvia Johnson, Keenan Thygesen, Haley Beukema, Tunbridge, VT
• Reserve Champion: Heritage Brook AP Tinsel-ETV, Zachary Johnson, Hannah Hurst, Tunbridge, VT
• Honorable Mention: Howacres R Cara with a K, Sylvia Johnson, Tunbridge, VT

Open Junior Champion

• Champion: Millborne HP Drone Finley, Morey Miller, M Hellenbrand, Peter Vail, Granby, CT
• Reserve Champion: Millborne HP Lambeau Teralee, Morey Miller, Hillpoint Partners, Granby, CT
• Honorable Mention: Topline Drone Dirty Deeds, Emily Fisher, Pittsfield, NH

Youth Junior Champion

• Champion: Mill Bridge JCPenney Sassafras, Sara Forman, Meriden, NH
• Reserve Champion: Poppydale Tampa Murphy, Brayden Bango (Leasee), Marybeth Trombly, Chateaugay, NY
• Honorable Mention: Digligle Laneys Sundown Luna, Elaina Sheldrick (Leasee), Eloise & Richard Giddings, Brandon, VT

Ayrshire Show

Open Grand Champion

• Champion: Chaluka Burdette Xana-ET, Peter Vail, Englewood, FL
• Reserve Champion: Shaker Hollow Dbl Barl Elysia, Bridey Nolan, Keenan Thygesen, Eagle Bride, NY
• Honorable Mention: Palmyra Reagan BR Blush, Peter Vail, Englewood, FL

Youth Grand Champion

• Champion: Heiview Reagan Eve, Matthew Shults, Kelly Edsall, John Tryon, Sharon Springs, NY
• Reserve Champion: Sweet-Pepper Gentleman Hettie, Kylie Jordan, Brushy Brook Farm, Hope Valley, RI
• Honorable Mention: Englan R Daiquiri, Peyton Wright, Dekalb Junction, NY

Open Junior Champion

• Champion: Vale High Predator Rosette, Peyton Wright, Owen & Lillian Roberts, DeKalb Junction, NY
• Reserve Champion: Brushy Brook PBR Shorty, Kylie Jordan, Hope Valley, RI
• Honorable Mention: SLCC Champ Tally, Chandler Stevens, Enosburg, VT

Youth Junior Champion

• Champion: Vale High Predator Rosette, Peyton Wright, Owen & Lillian Roberts, DeKalb Junction, NY
• Reserve Champion: Brushy Brook PBR Shorty, Kylie Jordan, Hope Valley, RI
• Honorable Mention: Four-Hills Look at Me 69687, Bradley, Johnny & Sarah Hill, Bristol, VT

Brown Swiss Show

Open Grand Champion

• Champion: Cutting Edge Thunder Faye, Ken Main, Kenny Joe Manion, Copake, NY
• Reserve Champion: Ritchi View Nuck Hum Dinger, Ken Main, Kenny Joe Manion, Allan Brisson, Copake, NY
• Honorable Mention: Cutting Edge D Surprise, Tyler Di Cintio, Verbank, NY

Youth Grand Champion

• Champion: Cedar Way Win For Michelle, Adele Biasini, Morrisville, VT
• Reserve Champion: RNR F&F Prima-ET, Emily Fisher, Pittsfield, NH
• Honorable Mention: Cutting Edge G Swift, Grace Balogh, Ashford, CT

Open Junior Champion

• Champion: Just So W Tassel, Peter Vail, Englewood, FL
• Reserve Champion: A Joy D Chiquita, Peter Vail, Englewood, FL
• Honorable Mention: Edge View F Faraway, Ken Main, Kenny Joe Manion, Copake, NY

Youth Junior Champion

• Champion: RNR Power Pony, Emily Fisher, Pittsfield, NH
• Reserve Champion: Edge View R Sunshine-ETV, Summer Kiernan, Copake, NY
• Honorable Mention: Edge View C Dallas-ETV, Sydney Bullard, Addison & Theo Goldenburg, Turner, ME

Milking Shorthorn Show

Open Grand Champion

• Champion: Elite HP Fancy Fire-ET, Peter Vail, Englewood, FL
• Reserve Champion: GMC-W-C Princeton Skyway, Doug Wherry, Greg & Marcia Clark, Cornish Flat, NH
• Honorable Mention: Cold Springs Premium Pearl, Cold Springs Milking Shorthorns, Farmington, NH

Youth Grand Champion

• Champion: GMC Zues Lemon-EXP, Zackary Clark, Cornish Flat, NH
• Reserve Champion: Glen-Mar Soldier Must Have-EXP, Abigail Bennett, Woodstock, CT
• Honorable Mention: Garys Triple Crown Firestar, Sarah Hill, Bristol, VT

Open Junior Champion

• Champion: Lands-Brook KNH Chilli Pepper, Peter Vail, Englewood, FL
• Reserve Champion: Henkeseen Jr Cy Striking-ET, Ridale Genetics, Ryan & Marjorie Rida, Worthington, MA
• Honorable Mention: Roxbury Rockstar Olive, Brianna Laraway, Kinderhook, NY

Youth Junior Champion

• Champion: Garys Triple Crown Firestar, Sarah Hill, Bristol, VT
• Reserve Champion: Hafta-Have Cyride Avril-ET, Brailey Livingston (Leasee), Bryan Chochoine, New Haven, VT
• Honorable Mention: Riser-4 C Spicy, Callie Flanagan, Millie Prazenica, New Oxford, PA

Holstein Show

Open Grand Champion

• Champion: Miss Pretty Playful-Red-ET, Peter Vail, Maple Downs Farms II, Middleburgh, NY
• Reserve Champion: Pineland Beemer Patience-ET, Pineland Farms Inc, New Gloucester, ME
• Honorable Mention: Schilldale Ammo Brave-Red, David Schillawski, Ancramdale, NY

Youth Grand Champion

• Champion: Amerada Bryant S-Greta, Curtis Koebke, New Haven, VT
• Reserve Champion: Knob-View D-Lambda Kansas, Carly Nowell, Woodsboro, MD
• Honorable Mention: Brigeen Sidekick Reta-ET, Sydney Bullard, Reeve Twitchell, Turner, ME

Open Junior Champion

• Champion: Allyndale Total Chaos, Justine Allyn, Canaan, CT
• Reserve Champion: Dialed-In Milio Pria, Jenna & Andrew Lenhardt, Thurmont, MD
• Honorable Mention: Juniper Tattoo Petra, Juniper Farm Inc & Allyndale Holstein, Gray, ME

Youth Junior Champion

• Champion: Ms Mapleside Denver Camille, Dylan Serge Slack, Bethel, VT
• Reserve Champion: Martin-Place War Tribe, Jaydn & Kennedy Kimball, Windham, ME
• Honorable Mention: Riverdown Thats Naughty-Red, Wyatt Chambers, Tunbridge, VT

Jersey Show

Open Grand Champion

• Champion: SSF VIP Janie, RCD Jerseys, Ernie Kueffner, Terri Packard, Rodney Hetts, Boonsboro, MD
• Reserve Champion: Arethusa Gentry Chevelle-ET, RCD Jerseys, Ernest Kueffner, Terri Packard, Boonsboro, MD
• Honorable Mention: River Valley Excitation Rwanda, Parkview Jerseys LLC, Lowville, NY

Youth Grand Champion

• Champion: Du Sillon Victorious Caliente, Sophie Depew, Argyle, NY
• Reserve Champion: Fairholm Krock Venegeance-ET, Derek Abbott, Hoosick Falls, NY
• Honorable Mention: Tierneys Gentry Paprika, Patrick Bosley, Tierney Farm, Malone, NY

Open Junior Champion

• Champion: South Mountain Whistlin Dixie-ET, Ernest Kueffner, Terri Packard, David & Charity Packard, Boonsboro, MD
• Reserve Champion: South Mountain Dixies Disco-ET, Ernest Kueffner, Terri Packard, Boonsboro, MD
• Honorable Mention: Topline Americas Sweetheart, Emily Fisher, Pittsfield, NH

Youth Junior Champion

• Champion: Hi-Poits-LLF Cheers Lovely Lies, Katelyn Poitras, Lillys Lane Farm, Brimfield, MA
• Reserve Champion: Jewel Bikapp of Cobyrock, Mason Rowe, Gray, ME
• Honorable Mention: Tierneys Reviresco Arya, Patrick & Kathryn Bosley, Tierney Farm, Malone, NY

Supreme Champion Heifer

Open Show

• Supreme: South Mountain Whistlin Dixie-ET, Jersey, Ernest Kueffner, Terri Packard, David & Charity Packard, Boonsboro, MD
• Reserve Supreme: Lands-Brook KNH Chilli Pepper, Milking Shorthorn, Peter Vail, Englewood, FL

Youth Show

• Supreme: Ms Mapleside Denver Camille, Holstein, Dylan Serge Slack, Bethel, VT
• Reserve Supreme: Vale High Predator Rosette, Ayrshire, Peyton Wright, Owen & Lillian Roberts, DeKalb Junction, NY

Supreme Champion Cow

Open Show

• Supreme: South Mountain Whistlin Dixie-ET, Jersey, Ernest Kueffner, Terri Packard, David & Charity Packard, Boonsboro, MD
• Reserve Supreme: Miss Pretty Playful-Red-ET, Holstein, Peter Vail, Maple Downs Farms II, Middleburgh, NY

Youth Show

• Supreme: Du Sillon Victorious Caliente, Jersey, Sophie Depew, Argyle, NY
• Reserve Supreme: Heiview Reagan Eve, Ayrshire, Matthew Shults, Kelly Edsall, John Tryon, Sharon Springs, NY

See You at The Next Show

The Udder Chaos team had a wonderful week as well. A couple of first places, some thirds, and even a few lasts to level us out. Overall, we ended the week with four purple ribbons and four banners. We will take a banner-winning day any day!

See you all at the next show!

Lila Nolan is a dairy farmer in White Creek, NY who works at Morning Ag Clips. She avidly attends dairy shows and draws from those experiences to write about the Udder Chaos that occurs.