2025
DAIRY CATTLE – DEPARTMENT B
Jeremy Daubert and Rosemary Life, Department Superintendents
(Revised April 2025)
DAIRY CATTLE RULES & REGULATIONS
1. Entries are due July 1st online at FairEntry.com. Stall assignments will be based on pre-entries.
2. All entry fees must be paid via the Fair Entry Website. Refunds will be made only with a veterinarian’s signed statement.
3. $10.00 entry fee per animal. Tack space will be assigned 1 per exhibitor at no cost and any extra will be based on barn availability.
4. The Dairy Shows will be held on Tuesday of fair week starting at 8:00AM with Showing & Fitting Classes first, then Type Classes. Dairy Market Steers will start at the conclusion of the Dairy Type Classes. The Dairy Show order for this year is as follows: Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, Red and White, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, and Holstein. Only these breeds are eligible to be exhibited and shown at the Rockingham County Fair Dairy Show.
5. Open competition is open to out-of-county herds (only if space is available). Youth competition is restricted to youth exhibitors who are bona fide Rockingham 4-H Club and/or FFA members.
6. All cattle must be the property of the individual exhibiting them.
7. Registration certificates will be required on all open show exhibits. All dairy animals, original registration papers, and health papers must be at the fairgrounds by Monday Noon of fair week. Grade animals must also have DHIA paper for the Junior Show.
8. No exhibitor shall win more than two premiums in any one class.
9. The storage of excessive amounts of hay, feed and straw will not be permitted in the barns and only if space is available after stall assignments have been made. This shall be at the discretion of the barn chairman. Area storing hay/feed/straw cannot be more than three tie rings/stalls and not stacked above the wooden tie walls.
10. Milkout at the discretion of the Judge.
11. Any cattle that are shown must be shown in the breed in which they are registered. In case an animal is dual registered, the animal must be shown in one breed or another, not in both.
12. Removal of animals
- Milk cows may leave Friday of fair week from 7AM-12PM.
- Display areas and Heifers/calves and tack can be removed on Saturday morning during 7AM-10AM.Any animals or tack left after 10AM must be loaded from the camper side parking lot. NO VEHICLES CAN BACK UP TO THE NORTH END OF THE BARNS AFTER 10:00 AM SATURDAY.
13. To obtain an armband, passes or parking pass, you must have a dairy animal that is entered in the Dairy Show which is held on Tuesday of fair week.
14. No head/clipping shoots allowed in the dairy barn – must be kept in the grassy area between beef/dairy barns.
15. All advertising/sponsor signs cannot be larger than 22" X 28" in size and must be displayed in tack area.
16. No watering troughs allowed inside of the dairy barn. They must remain on the wash rack.
(ANY AND ALL RULES OF THE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY FAIR PUBLISHED IN THE “FAIR CATALOG” APPLY TO ALL EXHIBIORS ALSO). THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
DAIRY CATTLE PDCA SHOW RING CODE OF ETHICS (February 2025)
Grooming and Preparation
Dairy cattle exhibitions are conducted under standards for evaluating conformation established by the PDCA Unified Score Card (2025), with specific breed characteristics taken into consideration by the show judge. In this connection, animals will be groomed and prepared for the judge’s evaluation in order to display the animal’s natural contour, conformation, performance and mobility. Specifically:
1. Changing the natural color of the animal is prohibited (effective 6/1/2015). However, external applications of cosmetics that affect only appearance may be used, including by way of example hoof polishes and false switches.
2. The maximum allowable length of naturally growing hair anywhere on the topline is not to exceed 1 ½ inches. Exhibitors will be required to comply with this rule before the animal is allowed to enter the ring. 3. Addition of foreign objects, including but not limited to hair or hair substitutes, cloth or fiber, to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal’s body is prohibited.
4. Externally sealing the teat end with a preparation that does not harm the animal’s skin is permissible.
5. Natural teat placement will be given preference over artificially positioned teats.
6. The practice of over bagging the udder, or allowing excessive fill of milk in the mammary system, is strongly discouraged due to the harmful impact on animal comfort and health. Any signs of this could result in competition disqualification.
Violations: False, Deceptive or Unacceptable Practices
These practices are violations of the Code of Ethics and will be reported to show management and may be reported to the respective national breed associations:
1. Misrepresenting the age, milking status and/or lactation number of the animal for the class in which it is shown.
2. Treating the animal, particularly the udder, internally or externally:
a. with an irritant or counterirritant,
b. using a device to artificially create or enhance the udder crease,
c. using other substances as detected by testing that causes changes in the udder to artificially improve the conformation.
d. no substance that is not approved by FDA or prescribed by veterinarian may be administered to the mammary system including the teat canal.
3. Surgical or unethical insertion of any matter under the skin or into body cavities, performed to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal’s body (e.g., administration of fluid via a stomach tube or other similar apparatus to fill the rumen), though not to preclude practices required or involved in normal management.
4. Criticizing or interfering with the judge, show management or other exhibitors while in the show ring or other conduct detrimental to the breed or the show.
5. Challenging, threatening or interfering with an ethics committee appointed by show management to monitor the animals on exhibit on the show grounds.
SECTION I – TYPE CLASSES
(Tuesday morning, following Showing & Fitting Classes that start at 8:00AM)
2025 Show Order: Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, Red and White Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Guernsey, and Holstein.
Heifer Classes
1st-$15, 2nd-$12, 3rd-$9, 4th-$6, 5th-$3 (open premiums)
(Rosette only receives a ribbon and no cash award)
1. Spring Heifer Calf born March 1 through May 30, 2025
2. Winter Heifer Calf Calf born Dec. 1, 2024 through Feb. 28, 2025
3. Fall Heifer Calf born Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, 2024
4. Summer Heifer Calf born June 1 through August 31, 2024
5. Spring Yearling Heifer born March 1 through May 31, 2024
6. Winter Yearling Heifer born Dec. 1, 2023 through Feb. 28, 2024
7. Fall Yearling Heifer (not in milk) born Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, 2023
8. Junior Best of 3 females to consist of three animals all shown in the junior age classes, bred by exhibitor regardless of ownership.
Junior Champion Awards:
- Junior Champion (Youth Show) – Rosette
- Reserve Junior Champion (Youth Show) – Rosette
- Junior Champion (Open Show) – Rosette
- Reserve Junior Champion (Open Show) – Rosette
Cow Classes
1st-$25, 2nd-$20, 3rd-$15, 4th-$10, 5th-$5 (open premiums)
(Rosette only receives a ribbon and no cash award)
9. Junior two year old cow (not necessarily in milk) born March 1. 2023 through August 31, 2023
10. Senior two year old cow born Sept. 1, 2022 through Feb. 28, 2023
11. Three year old cow born Sept. 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022
12. Four year old cow born Sept. 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021
13. Aged cow born before Sept. 1, 2019
14. Dry cow – any age freshened at least once
Senior Champion Awards:
- Senior Champion (Youth Show) – Rosette
- Reserve Senior Champion (Youth Show) – Rosette
- Grand Champion (Youth Show) – Rosette
- Reserve Grand Champion (Youth Show) – Rosette
- Senior Champion (Open Show)– Rosette
- Reserve Senior Champion (Open Show) – Rosette
- Grand Champion(Open Show) – Rosette
- Reserve Grand Champion (Open Show) - Rosette
Other Classes
1st-$15, 2nd-$12, 3rd-$9, 4th-$6, 5th-$3 (open premiums)
15. Best Udder of Show (in milk)
16. Dam and Daughter – two females, one to be the offspring of the other, may be owned by two exhibitors
17. Produce of Dam to consist of two animals, any age, the produce of one cow. May be owned by two exhibitors
18. Best of three females to consist of three females, any age, all bred by one breeder, one animal may be owned by another exhibitor
Supreme Champion Classes
(No cash award, Rosette only)
The Junior Champion (heifers) and Senior Champion (cows) of the Junior and Open Shows will be pulled for the following supreme classes:
- Supreme Jr. Champion (Junior Show)
- Reserve Jr. Supreme Champion (Junior Show)
- Supreme Jr. Champion (Open Show)
- Reserve Jr. Supreme Champion (Open Show)
- Supreme Sr. Champion (Junior Show)
- Reserve Sr. Champion (Junior Show)
- Supreme Sr. Champion (Open Show)
- Reserve Sr. Champion (Open Show)
SECTION II – YOUTH SHOWING & FITTING CLASSES
(Tuesday of Fair starting at 8:00AM before Type Classes)
Youth showing and fitting is MANDATORY if youth want to receive youth premiums. Youth must be a bonafide 4-H or FFA member in good standing. Youth participating in these classes are NOT eligible for the Pee-Wee class.
- 4-H Cloverbud Showmanship ages 5-8 as of September 30th
- Junior Dairy Fitting & Showmanship ages 9-12 as of September 30th
- Intermediate Dairy Fitting & Showmanship ages 13-15 as of September 30th
- Senior Dairy Fitting & Showmanship ages 16-19 as of September 30th
*No premiums, but an award of some type is given
1st-$15, 2nd-$12, 3rd-$9, 4th-$6, 5th-$3
1st-$15, 2nd-$12, 3rd-$9, 4th-$6, 5th-$3
1st-$15, 2nd-$12, 3rd-$9, 4th-$6, 5th-$3
SECTION III – FUN CLASSES
(Thursday of Fair)
Dairy Pee-Wee Class
Sponsored by Farm Credit of the Virginias
1. Ages 8 and younger as of September 30th of the current year.
2. Any dairy breed may be shown.
3. Any animal shown must have also been shown in the open or junior dairy show on Tuesday.
4. All participants will receive a ribbon – no premiums awarded.
5. Cloverbud’s that participated in the Cloverbud Showmanship class on Tuesday are not eligible.
6. Class starts at 7:00PM Thursday.
Dress a Calf Class
Sponsored by Greenmount Grain Roasting, LLC
1. Each team will need to supply their own clothing items to dress themselves and their animal.
2. Any animal used, must have also been shown in the open or junior dairy show on Tuesday.
3. All exhibits in the class are subject to the general rules of the Rockingham County Fair Association and Dairy Department. See General Rules and Regulations for Health Requirements and Barn Area rules.
4. Class will be judged strictly on the costume of the calf and participants ONLY. Fitting is not considered in the judging of this class. Participants do not need to own the animal.
5. No cash premiums will be awarded for this class. Prizes will be donated by class sponsors.
6. Any dairy breed may be shown.
7. Class will be on Thursday night of the fair, following the Pee Wee Class.
SECTION IV – YOUTH DAIRY SHOW
Junior Premiums
- Class listings are the same as listed above for the open show.
- Youth will receive premiums as follows for placing in youth competition, in addition to any premium won in the open placings:1st - $152nd - $123rd - $10
- All youth entries will receive a $10 participating premium for 3rd place and below in youth competition.
Junior Rules & Regulations
- All youth exhibitors must be bona fide Rockingham 4-H Club and/or FFA members meeting the following criteria:
- Youth entries may be exhibited by all bonafide Rockingham 4-H & FFA members who are 9 years old by September 30th of the current year.
- Final participation in the youth show is the show immediately following graduation from High School.
- 4-H & FFA exhibitors who participated in the previous year’s fair must turn in a project book for species they exhibited in order to be eligible to show this year.
- Pre-entry and health requirements are the same as those for the Open Dairy Show.
- Youth exhibitors may not show in the Open Show with non-registered (grade) stock.
- Cattle do not have to be registered to receive Junior Show premiums; however grade animals are not allowed in the Open Show and will not receive Open Show premiums.
- The Youth Dairy Show will be held simultaneously with the Open Show.After all animals have been placed, junior animals will be advanced and awarded Junior Show Premiums and Ribbons.
- All cattle must be owned by the exhibitor. Ownership defined:
- Animals must be registered in the name of the Youth member, or a partnership of Youth members, throughout the year exhibiting in order to qualify for Youth recognition. Adult-Youth and family or farm partnerships are NOT acceptable.
- For an animal (cow or heifer) being transferred to a Youth, or a partnership of Youth, the transfer application must be received by July 15th.
- The following actions will disqualify an animal from Youth recognition:
- Transferring an animal in or out of a Youth’s name after the deadline
- Adding or dropping any adult or Youth member as owner after the deadline
- There is also a 4-H/FFA Dairy Lease Agreement for youth that are interested in showing dairy animals without ownership. Contact the Dairy Barn Chairman or the Rockingham County Extension Office to receive a copy or explanation of the program. The Lease agreement is due to the Dairy Barn Chairman or the Rockingham County Extension office by July 1st.
- Youth Fitting and Showing is mandatory. If a youth does not participate in Youth Fitting and Showing they cannot receive Youth Premiums from Tuesday’s show. The youth would only be eligible to collect open premiums from Tuesday’s show.
- Permission for an exception from Youth Fitting and Showing can be requested in writing to the Dairy Department Chairman. Chairman must receive a written request 4 days prior to the Youth Fitting and Showing Class. If there is a medical reason, a Doctor’s note must accompany a written request to be excused. The Chairman and Dairy Barn Committee will have the final decision and give a written response one day prior to the Youth Fitting and Showing class.
- All animals shown in Fitting and Showing classes must be owned by the exhibitor.
- Classes will be formed for Youth Fitting and Showing based on age as of September 30th
- Ages 5-8 (Cloverbud); Ages 9-12 (Junior Division); 13-15 (Intermediate Division); 16-19 (Senior Division).
- Youth Fitting and Showmanship classes will be held Tuesday of fair week starting at 8:00AM.