Love for the big brown cow

By now, you may have picked up that I go to a lot of cattle shows throughout the summer. Well, the fall is no different.

The Minnesota State Fair came and went. Like many others who bring livestock, you enjoy exhibiting and seeing friends, but there is no better feeling than being home and being out of the craziness.

One of my favorite weekends falls just shortly after. My family exhibits cattle at the Minnesota Brown Swiss Association’s State Sale and Junior Show hosted in St. Charles, which usually lands the second weekend of September.

Friends from all over the state gather and show their love of the Brown Swiss breed. This might be controversial, but in my opinion, Brown Swiss are the best breed. For me, Brown Swiss, or as I like to call them, “The Big Brown Cow,” are what ignited my passion and love for the dairy industry.

The start of the weekend is Friday night, when we have our banquet — always with delicious food — and awards; the best part is the fun auction.

Many of the baskets up for auction are unique and have something for everyone. My favorite basket this year was donated by Charlie and Carrie Sachs in memory of their son, CJ.

The basket was filled with items CJ was known for wearing, drinking and loving, including his favorite color, Allis-Chalmers orange. You could almost always find CJ in a cutoff T-shirt, with a Mountain Dew in hand, a camo hat and a pair of sunglasses resting on top of his head. The family captured those little details perfectly in the basket, making it a special way to remember CJ.

Growing up, Friday night was the best time after the banquet. All of us kids would play games outside and inside the barns until our parents made us go to sleep. Those nights are ones I’ll treasure the most.

Saturday is the state junior show as well as the state sale. It is always amazing to see the number of kids who are learning to love the breed just as I do. In the past few years, as my siblings aged out of being juniors, my cousins have started showing. They have all been a tremendous help at shows and are always eager to learn.

My favorite part of the day is the sale. I enjoy hearing the auctioneer and pedigree reader banter together about animals, and the immense knowledge they contain about cattle always blows my mind.

This year, I was lucky enough — or maybe unlucky — to be selected to walk all the grumpy heifers in the sale ring. The one heifer I took gave me quite a welcome. When I untied her, she nearly pulled me off my feet. But luckily, we made it through the sale ring with only a few complications.

My cousins near Nerstrand have leased heifers for 4-H and FFA for a couple of years now. This year, my cousin, Tavis Ballsted, bought his first calf, and I am lucky to say it was a Brown Swiss.

This year marked my last year competing as a junior, and while I am excited to see what the next chapter brings, it is also a little bittersweet.

So much of my childhood has been spent at Brown Swiss shows. I have made friendships, learned from people who have been involved in the breed for decades and made memories that I know I will carry with me long after my junior show days are over.

I am incredibly thankful to everyone involved with the MBSA for the time, effort and support they have given young exhibitors like me. I am equally thankful for my family and friends who have hauled cattle, helped fit animals, cheered from the sidelines, and taught me more than they probably realize.