HARRISBURG, Pa. — The best of Pennsylvania’s cattle is on display, as dozens of farms showed off their livestock for the Pennsylvania Farm Show’s Open Beef Competition.
“Preparation for this event, for us as beef breeders, started over a year ago," said Jonathan Coble, the owner of Coble Farms.
Coble has two daughters, ages 13 and 17, who show off Heifers competitively. He said both girls train with their cattle each day for several months to get them used to walking for show.
“They’re walking a 1500-pound [Heifer] that’s ten times their weight," said Coble.
“It’s basically like team building throughout the couple of months," explained Brooke Coble.
Brooke and Hayle Coble have been doing Heifer shows for eight years. They said the Pennsylvania Farm Show is one of the biggest competitions they participate in each year.
“We’re usually in smaller shows where there isn’t a lot of extra people," said Hayle. "But the Farm Show is a little more nerve-wracking.”
Each Heifer goes through nearly two hours of grooming before their big walk. Brooke said this is to make the cattle more presentable to the judges overseeing the competition.
“We wash them, shampoo them, we blow them out until they're fluffy, and then we condition them," said Brooke. "We spray a couple of things on them which helps grow their hair.”
The hours of training and conditioning all culminate to compete for the best in show.
“You really try to make them the best you can and make them presentable, which is what the fitting process and working with them helps with," said Hayle.